Yesterday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the five contributor finalists for the Class of 2027.
Today, they announced the final five coaching candidates, and we know the man Jim Porter (and many others) wants in…that is Bill Belichick, one of the five. The five were cut from a group of 14, with the other nine being unknown.
For reference, the sub-committee members are Jared Allen (NFL Hall of Fame Defensive End), Jarrett Bell (NFL Reporter for USA Today), Vic Carucci (NFL Analyst for WGRZ in Buffalo), Peter Dougherty (Green Bay Packers beat writer for the Green Bay Press-Gazette), Dan Fouts (NFL Hall of Fame Quarterback and broadcaster), Bob Glauber (author), Nicki Jhabvala (Pro Football Writers of America President), Ira Kaufman (NFL Columnist and Veteran Tampa Bay Reporter), Sam Kouvaris (Columnist), Rob Maaddi (Associated Press), Sal Paolantonio (ESPN), Mike Sando (The Athletic), Jim Trotter (Retired NFL Journalist) and Charean Williams (Pro Football Talk)
Here are the five.
Bill Belichick. With all due respect to this loaded group of candidates, no one matches Bill Belichick's resume. He began his coaching career as a special assistant in Baltimore, joined the New York Giants in 1979, worked his way up to Defensive Coordinator, and won two Super Bowls in that role. He became Cleveland’s Head Coach, but he posted a winning record in only one of his six years. He got another chance as head coach in New England, and the rest was history. Belichick ushered in the Patriots' dynasty, leading the Pats to six Super Bowl wins, nine Super Bowl appearances (both records as a Head Coach), and presided over the most remarkable run by any Head Coach associated with one team in NFL history. Belichick finished with a 333-178 record, a 31-13 playoff record, and three AP Coach of the Year Awards. He was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary Team.
Tom Coughlin: Coughlin worked his way up the ranks and became head coach of the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995. He was their Head Coach for eight years, leading them to two AFC Championship Games, the first in the franchise’s second year. After being fired, he joined the New York Giants, where the stoic leader led the G-Men to two Super Bowl wins (XLII & XLVI). He retired with an overall record of 170-150 and is already a member of the New York Giants Ring of Honor and Pride of the Jaguars.
Mike Holmgren. Holmgren won two Super Bowls with San Francisco, first as a quarterback coach and then as their Offensive Coordinator, which propelled him to the Head Coaching job in Green Bay in 1992. He led the Packers to a Super Bowl win at SBXXXI. Holmgren accepted the Seattle Seahawks coaching job and took them to a Super Bowl appearance in 2005. A member of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and the Seattle Seahawks Ring of Honor, Holmgren finished with a 161-111 record.
Dan Reeves. Reeves won a Super Bowl as an Assistant Coach in Dallas and was hired by Denver as their Head Coach in 1981. He led the Broncos to three AFC Titles but could not punch their ticket to a Super Bowl win. After Denver let him go, he signed with the Giants and won the 1993 AP Coach of the Year. Later, he took over as Atlanta’s Head Coach, leading them to their first Super Bowl appearance—a loss to his former team (Denver)—and earning his second Coach of the Year award. He finished with a 190-165-2 record and is a member of the Broncos Ring of Honor.
Mike Shanahan. Shanahan joined Denver as wide receivers coach in 1984, and a year later began a three-year stint as offensive coordinator, where he caught the eye of Raiders owner Al Davis, who hired him to replace Tom Flores. That didn’t last long; he returned to Denver but was let go after a dispute between Quarterback John Elway and Dan Reeves. He went to San Francisco, where he won Super Bowl XXIX as offensive coordinator. He returned to Denver in 1995, leading the Broncos to their first two Super Bowl wins (XXXII & XXXIII) during a 14-year run. He finished his career with three years at Washington, posting an overall record of 170-138. He is also a member of the Broncos Ring of Fame.
With all due respect to the other four candidates, there is no doubt Bill Belichick will advance.
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