A new selection rule for the Pro Football Hall of Fame has pushed up the induction eligibility for former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
Per Pro Football Talk, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced on Friday that coaches will only need to be out of the NFL for one season before they’d be eligible to be inducted. That’s a drastic shift from the previous rule, which made coaches wait for five seasons.
So Belichick, who parted ways with the Patriots after 24 years back in January, will be eligible for the Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Under the previous rule, the legendary coach wouldn’t have been eligible until 2029.
Keep in mind, Belichick never officially retired from coaching, and there is belief that he’ll once again be in the mix for a job in the 2025 coaching cycle. If he ends up coaching elsewhere, that would officially push back his eligibility.
Belichick is only 15 wins away from surpassing Don Schula to become the winningest coach in NFL history. It’s hard to envision him walking away from a job opportunity, if one becomes available.
