Mahomes calls out Hall of Fame voters after shocking Belichick snub

Even Patrick Mahomes' responses are the best.

The saying goes something like "game recognize game." Or as author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle once wrote, “Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself; but talent instantly recognizes genius.” In other words, there's a very good reason why Mahomes has a natural appreciation for Bill Belichick's body of work and list of accomplishments. Someone great is going to respect that in others.

On Tuesday, word leaked from sources-in-the-know to ESPN reporters Seth Wickersham and Don Van Natta Jr. that Belichick did not receive enough votes to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. If you did a double take or if you offered up an audible gasp in response, you're not alone. Mahomes felt the same way.

Patrick Mahomes gave the only logical response to the news that Bill Belichick is not going to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Insane is a perfect word. Belichick's failed candidacy in 2026 means that at least 10 voters looked at his name on the list of potential honorees and decided against it. Sure, there was Spygate. Sure, there was Deflategate as well. No one ever said you had to like Belichick, however, to respect him, and Mahomes has that part down.

There should be no need to list Belichick's qualifications, but somehow Hall of Fame voters decided to overlook the six Super Bowl titles as a head coach and the 31 playoff victories while serving as head coach for the single greatest dynastic run in NFL history.

Mahomes is the ideal person to call out the lunacy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame voting system. After all, he's the quarterback at the helm of the league's next dynasty and has constantly been compared to Tom Brady after just a few seasons as a starting quarterback, with Andy Reid playing the role of Mahomes' Belichick. The Pats and Chiefs are consistently tied together in post-mllenial NFL narratives, so Mahomes clearly knows (and admires) the challenges of sustained success.

Mahomes says he "cannot understand how this could be possible", and he's not alone. We're all left a bit confused after this development. Imagine how silly it would be if Mahomes was left off of such a list when his time comes. It'd be outrageous to fans, and even haters would have to wonder where the system was broken. The same holds true for Belichick, even if there are legitimate complaints about his methods or stains on his persona.