Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel took aim at Bill Belichick during a monologue on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” after the longtime New England Patriots coach failed to earn a first-ballot induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
On Wednesday’s episode, Kimmel addressed the surprising omission by first poking fun at Belichick’s controversial reputation before ultimately defending his Hall of Fame case. “Bill Belichick is a bit of a j*** and a bit of a cheater, but he absolutely should have been voted into the Hall of Fame,” Kimmel said.
Kimmel then shifted to Belichick’s personal life as the joke continued, adding, “The guy has been winning Super Bowls longer than his girlfriend has been alive.” Belichick, 73, is currently dating Jordon Hudson, 24.
Belichick and Hudson were first spotted together publicly in Nantucket in June 2024. Hudson, a former cheerleader at Bridgewater State University, has since accompanied Belichick to several high-profile events, including Michael Rubin’s 2025 Fanatics Super Bowl Party in New Orleans.
Belichick has also spoken about Hudson’s involvement in his professional life, noting that she helps manage his opportunities outside of his role with the University of North Carolina football program.
Belichick’s omission quickly became one of the biggest sports stories of the week after he failed to secure the required 40 of 50 votes from the Hall of Fame selection committee to earn first-ballot entry into Canton as part of the Class of 2026.
According to ESPN, the voting process included significant debate over Belichick’s connection to the Spygate and Deflategate controversies, which resurfaced as factors in the discussion despite his historic résumé.
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Belichick captured six Super Bowl titles across 24 seasons as head coach of the Patriots before the franchise and coach mutually parted ways following the 2023 season. He also won two additional championships as an assistant coach with the New York Giants.
In total, Belichick has amassed 333 career victories, the second-most in NFL history, trailing only Don Shula, further cementing his legacy as one of the most accomplished coaches the league has ever seen.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Addressed Concerns About The 2026 Voting Process
Kimmel also highlighted former President Donald Trump’s public reaction to the decision, pointing to a social media post in which Trump called for Belichick’s exclusion to be “overturned” while also taking aim at the NFL’s revised kickoff rule.
Amid growing scrutiny over the voting process, the Pro Football Hall of Fame released a statement addressing the reports and the backlash surrounding the Class of 2026 selection.
“The Pro Football Hall of Fame understands and respects the passionate reaction of many fans, media members, and enshrinees of the Hall itself in light of published reports regarding the voting results for the Class of 2026. It’s that very passion that propels the game,” the statement said.
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The Hall noted that its selection procedures are reviewed annually and stressed the importance of adherence to its established bylaws. The organization added that if any selector is found to have violated those rules, disciplinary action could follow, including possible removal from the committee.
