Belichick snubbed for HOF berth

Fury as Mahomes and LeBron cry disrespect

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Bill Belichick led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles.

(AFP)

Legendary former NFL coach Bill Belichick has reportedly failed to win immediate entry into the Hall of Fame, reports said on Tuesday, a stunning snub that triggered uproar throughout American football.

Belichick, who won six Super Bowls as head coach of the New England Patriots during the Tom Brady era and two more as defensive coordinator for the New York Giants, failed to secure the required 40 of 50 votes to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a first ballot inductee.

The 73-year-old is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in the history of the NFL but his career was also tinged with controversy, notably the 2007 “Spygate” scandal, when he was fined a record US$500,000 after the Patriots were caught illegally filming signals by opposing coaches during games.

Belichick’s Patriots were also caught in the “Deflategate” scandal in 2015, when quarterback Brady was eventually suspended for ordering the deliberate deflation of game balls to make them easier to manipulate.