Tony Dungy was one of the names rumoured to have helped block Bill Belichick from the Pro Football Hall of Fame earlier this year.
Belichick being snubbed from the Pro Football Hall of Fame at the start of the year proved to be one of the biggest controversies in recent memory.
The incident became such an issue that it led to the Pro Football Hall of Fame amending its voting and membership structures recently.
Tony Dungy doesn’t understand controversy surrounding Bill Belichick HOF snub
Speaking in an interview for Sage Steele’s podcast, Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Dungy explained why he won’t disclose his vote surrounding Bill Belichick’s admission into the Hall of Fame.
He noted that the process is the way it is, and he stands by himself and the voting committee. Dungy also stressed that the notion of ‘first ballot Hall of Famer’ is overblown, and doesn’t matter in the long run.
Dungy said: “Because I wouldn’t talk about it, I haven’t talked about it, and I’m not going to. Everybody thinks Bill should have gotten in. There were 50 people that voted. That’s the process. I’ve always said I stood with the voters.
“That’s how we voted under the rules we had. And yet, those same votes, had it been under the old rules, he would’ve gotten in. I look at it and say, ‘I don’t know why everybody is looking at the voters.”
“I think he’ll get in. I know everybody made a big thing about the first ballot. Vince Lombardi didn’t get in on the first ballot. Being a Hall of Famer, I can tell you it doesn’t matter if you go in on the first ballot or not. Once you get in, you feel good about the process.”
Regardless of Dungy’s feelings on the matter, the distinction of ‘First Ballot Hall of Famer’ is quite prestigious, and many felt Bill Belichick was deserving of said distinction.
Since then, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has taken some strict action on the voting procedure, with over 50 names, including Dungy, losing their voting power going forward.
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