The Pro Football Hall of Fame confirmed Wednesday that Hall of Famer Bill Polian did vote to induct former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick in his first year of eligibility, backing prior statements by the former Indianapolis Colts executive.

A spokesperson for the Hall said Polian did not speak during the discussion around Belichick’s candidacy or bring up the former coach’s cheating scandals. The spokesperson also said the independent auditing firm that conducts balloting confirmed Polian’s vote for Belichick.

Belichick, now the head coach at North Carolina, needed 40 of the 50 selectors to vote yes on his induction, but fell short. With a record six Super Bowls and the second most wins (including playoffs) in NFL history, his future enshrinement is considered a given, and many were surprised to hear he did not qualify for this year’s class.

Polian, the former Indianapolis Colts executive who drafted Peyton Manning and built a Super Bowl-winning roster around him, found himself denying an ESPN report that he said Belichick should “wait a year” due to his involvement in the Patriots’ “Spygate” and “Deflategate” scandals. Polian did say that he heard the idea circulate among his fellow voters, most of whom are sports media members.

“I was shocked to learn Bill didn’t get in,” Polian told ESPN. “He deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.”

Bill Polian discussed his vote for Bill Belichick in the Hall of Fame selection process.

Hear the full interview now⬇️

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— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) January 28, 2026

Polian went a step further on Wednesday when he read a written statement during his SiriusXM radio show.

“I voted for Coach Belichick in the Hall of Fame selection meeting,” he said. “The Pro Football Hall of Fame has confirmed that fact through the auditors of the selection process. Again, I’ll state that I never said that I believe that Coach Belichick should ‘wait a year’ for enshrinement. This has been confirmed by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, numerous selectors who were in the room, and my vote for Coach Belichick.

“As a Hall of Fame member and selector, I realize the import of what we do. I’ve always tried as a selector to make these difficult choices with the utmost objectivity. I’ve said on SiriusXM radio and numerous other media outlets that I believe Coach Belichick to be a first ballot Hall of Famer. My vote confirms that.”

The Hall of Fame requires that voting decisions be based primarily on football performance. Deviating from that standard to include personal conduct could violate that policy.

“If it is determined that any member(s) violated the selection process bylaws, they understand action will be taken,” the Hall of Fame said in a statement. “That could include the possibility that such selector(s) would not remain a member of the committee moving forward.”

Belichick’s Patriots teams won six Super Bowls, and his 333 wins as a head coach are second only to Don Shula’s 347 wins. He also functioned as New England’s general manager during his tenure, and previously won two other Super Bowls as an assistant coach for the New York Giants. Those achievements virtually guarantee he will live on in Canton, though the two cheating scandals may have influenced voting.

“Spygate” was a 2007 scandal in which the Patriots were videotaping opposing coaches’ signals during games. An NFL investigation found evidence that the prohibited filming had gone on for several years. The league went on to fine Belichick a record $500,000, the highest possible amount, while fining the team $250,000 and stripping it of its first-round pick in the 2008 draft.

Eight years later, the Patriots again found themselves facing cheating allegations. “Deflategate” brought ire toward Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, who was accused of asking equipment managers to underinflate footballs in the AFC Championship Game on Jan. 18, 2015. Brady and the Patriots defeated the Colts in that game. Brady was suspended for four games, while the Patriots were fined $1 million and forfeited a pair of 2016 draft selections. While Belichick was not directly part of the scandal, it occurred under his watch.

Also on the Hall of Fame ballot this year was Robert Kraft, the Patriots’ owner since 1994. Kraft fired Belichick in January 2024 after several disappointing seasons, with the pair reportedly parting on poor terms. Despite that, Kraft said Wednesday that Belichick’s credentials are clearly Hall of Fame-worthy. Brady likewise voiced his shock.

“Whatever perceptions may exist about any personal differences between Bill and me, I strongly believe Bill Belichick’s record and body of work speak for themselves,” Kraft told The Athletic. “As head coach of the New England Patriots for more than two decades, he set the standard for on-field excellence, preparation, and sustained success in the free agency and salary cap era of the National Football League. He is the greatest coach of all time, and he unequivocally deserves to be a unanimous first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer.”

Polian and Kraft are close friends, and the former reportedly pushed for Kraft’s induction during the most recent deliberations. It’s still unclear whether Kraft received enough votes for induction. Before his tenure with the Colts, Polian also worked as general manager for the Buffalo Bills and Carolina Panthers.

The Patriots are preparing to face the Seattle Seahawks at Super Bowl 60 in Santa Clara, Calif., after a resurgence under first-year coach and Patriots Hall of Fame member Mike Vrabel.

Meanwhile, Belichick’s Tar Heels finished their season 4-8 in an uninspiring start to his college football debut.