Mile High Report
Belichick’s eligible for the HOF in 2026. Likely delaying Shanahan’s HOF bid, Belichick feels Shanahan is worthy.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame has its latest class of inductees.
Now, we can look ahead to 2026 and specifically whether former Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan will finally be given his due.
Shanahan should have been inducted this past weekend, but he was passed over by the inferior Mike Holmgren, who was rightfully not included in the list of this year’s inductees. Thus, that coaching finalist spot was wasted. Had Shanny been given that finalist spot, he would have been inducted. Way to go, Hall of Fame selection committee. Banner job, as usual.
Looking ahead to 2026, Shanahan is likely going to have to wait another year since Bill Belichick is in his first year of eligibility. Given the change in the Hall of Fame bylaws, a coach only has to be out of the NFL for one year as opposed to the previous five. Since Belichick is considered one of the greatest coaches in league history, if not the greatest, he’s a lock to get inducted.
That means Shanahan will have to wait another year. And it’s a shame. Shanahan should already be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. He’s one of the great coaches in NFL history. His influence on the game is undeniable, and it’s still being felt and seen. Shanahan’s offense revolutionized the game, and nearly half of the league’s offenses still use some form of his system. Not to mention Shanahan is one of just eight head coaches to win back-to-back Super Bowls.
And Belichick agrees. As he said to Athlon Sports recently at ACC football media day, via former Broncos safety Nick Ferguson:
“Well, I think he should (get in the Hall of Fame). I mean, two Super Bowl championships. Mike did a great job. He and Alex Gibbs really developed that zone running game that almost every team in football runs today. It’s not just wins and losses, but I would say his contributions to the game. Obviously, his son Kyle is a great coach in his family.
“But I thought Mike was tremendous. We always had a hard time with defending Mike. Again, I became a better coach having to work against Mike and Mike’s teams. Ya know, it was Denver, and later on, when he went to Washington. I think he should be. A 100 percent, I think he should be in the Hall of Fame.”
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