Let’s get this out of the way first: Bill Belichick belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Full stop.
He is arguably the greatest head coach in NFL history, and the idea that he wasn’t a first-ballot inductee is, frankly, ridiculous. Rings, longevity, dominance, innovation — Belichick checks every box that matters on the field.
But here’s where things get uncomfortable.
The Hall of Fame isn’t decided purely on football merit.
And that’s where Pete Carroll may ultimately have an edge Belichick never did.
The Belichick Problem (That Was Never About Coaching)
There’s a mostly unspoken reason Belichick was left waiting: he wasn’t well-liked.
Over two decades, Belichick built a reputation as gruff, dismissive, and uncooperative — especially with the media and league insiders. Add in the lingering stain of Spygate and Deflategate, and you have a coach who, while respected, accumulated plenty of enemies.
Belichick never cared about that. He wasn’t trying to be popular. He was trying to win.
But Hall of Fame voting is a human process, and humans remember how you treated them.
Why Pete Carroll Is Different
Pete Carroll’s résumé may not match Belichick’s in raw championship volume, but it is undeniably Hall of Fame–worthy:
- A Super Bowl win
- Another Super Bowl appearance
- A decade of sustained success in Seattle
- One of the greatest defenses in NFL history
- A massive cultural impact on a franchise
More importantly, Carroll leaves the league with something Belichick never prioritized: goodwill.
Former players adore him. Assistants credit him as a mentor. Media members speak highly of his openness and authenticity. Around the NFL, Carroll is viewed as energetic, positive, and genuine.
In short: Pete Carroll is liked.
Why That Might Matter in 2028
When Carroll becomes eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2028, the emotional context around his career will be warm and celebratory. He’ll be remembered as a culture-builder, a players’ coach who won big without alienating everyone around him.
Belichick will get in eventually — that’s inevitable.
But Carroll might not have to wait.
And that’s the irony: two all-time great coaches, separated not by football greatness, but by how they navigated the league as people.
Sometimes, being the best isn’t enough.
Sometimes, being the best and being liked makes all the difference.
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