The decision to keep Bill Belichick out of the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his first ballot has sparked widespread backlash across the NFL world. While former players, coaches, and fans continue debating the reasoning behind the snub, Jason Kelce has emerged as one of Belichick’s most outspoken defenders, particularly when it comes to the lingering shadow of Spygate.
Speaking on Philadelphia radio’s 94 WIP podcast, Kelce dismissed the idea that Belichick’s legacy should still be stained by the 2007 scandal, arguing that much of the outrage is misplaced.
“If you are doing signals out in the open so that the other team can see them, and you do it enough and repeatedly that they can then steal it from you, that’s your fault,” Kelce said. “If you are doing signals so bad that the other team can steal them, that’s your fault.”
When co-hosts pushed back, pointing out that Spygate involved videotaping from an unauthorized location rather than simply reading signals, Kelce doubled down, suggesting similar tactics have long existed across the league.
“I have heard multiple stories of coaches going into other teams’ hotel rooms to get game plans,” Kelce added.
Revisiting Spygate and its role in Belichick’s HOF debate
The Spygate controversy dates back to September 2007, when a Patriots video assistant was caught filming the New York Jets’ defensive signals during a game at Giants Stadium. Then-Jets head coach Eric Mangini, a former Belichick assistant, alerted league officials, triggering an NFL investigation.
While filming hand signals itself was not illegal, the Patriots violated league rules by recording from an unauthorized location. The punishment was severe: Belichick was fined $500,000, the Patriots were fined $250,000, and New England forfeited a first-round draft pick in 2008. The tapes were destroyed by the league, fueling years of speculation about what they may have revealed.
Belichick accepted responsibility at the time, stating he misunderstood the league’s video policy. The NFL rejected that explanation, emphasizing teams had been clearly warned.
Mangini later reflected on the situation in a 2012 interview:
“Never in a million years did I expect it to play out like this. This is one of those situations where I didn’t want them to do the things they were doing.”
Despite the sanctions, many around the league believe the scandal has been disproportionately weaponized against Belichick – particularly in light of his Hall of Fame exclusion. Reports surfaced suggesting former Colts executive Bill Polian allegedly pushed for Belichick to serve a “penance year” due to Spygate, though Polian has denied actively campaigning against him.
NFL legends rally behind Belichick
Kelce isn’t alone in questioning the Hall’s decision. Former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady expressed disbelief during an appearance on Brock and Salk.
“I don’t understand it,” Brady said.
“If he’s not a first-ballot Hall of Famer, there’s really no coach that should ever be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.”
Former tight end Rob Gronkowski echoed that sentiment even more bluntly.
“It’s very asinine that he was not a first-ballot Hall of Famer. It’s just absolutely absurd.”
Belichick’s résumé remains unmatched: six Super Bowl titles, 11 consecutive division championships, and a coaching tree that reshaped modern football. Whether inducted next year or later, many believe history will ultimately remember his impact, not the controversy.
As Kelce and others see it, Spygate may be part of the story, but it shouldn’t define the greatest coaching career the NFL has ever seen.
Read the full article here
