The Pro Football Hall of Fame is changing its voting procedures after the controversy surrounding Bill Belichick not being elected in his first year of eligibility for the 2026 class. President Jim Porter announced the vote will revert to an in-person meeting and discussion among the 50-member committee, abandoning the virtual format used since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The vote will also be scheduled closer to the NFL Honors announcement, likely during Super Bowl week in the host city, to reduce the chance of results leaking, as happened with Belichick. Porter said the Hall may consider releasing vote totals and individual ballots publicly in the future, similar to the Baseball Hall of Fame, but not for the 2026 class.
A key issue under review is a rule grouping coaches and contributors with older players on the ballot for years. This forced voters to choose between legacy candidates and Belichick, seen as a primary reason for his omission. Porter also indicated committee members who publicly discussed the voting debate could be replaced.
Five players—Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Luke Kuechly, Adam Vinatieri, and Roger Craig—were elected to the 2026 class and will be inducted in August.