Bill Belichick isn't the only NFL legend who will apparently be waiting at least another year for his election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning, who famously engineered two upsets of Belichick's dynastic Patriots in Super Bowls 42 and 46, also failed to make the cut for 2026, according to The Athletic. This was Belichick's first year of eligibility and Manning's second.
Manning is one of six players ever to be named Super Bowl MVP multiple times. He's the only one eligible for the Hall who hasn't been inducted − and it stands to reason that Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes will waltz into Canton.
It seems Manning's overall résumé is holding him back.
He was a four-time Pro Bowler in 16 NFL seasons, a modest number given his longevity. His brother, Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, was a five-time league MVP by comparison. Eli Manning's regular-season record of 117-117 is the definition of average.
