Don, Hahn & Rosenberg – Hour 3: Belichick Not Elected (Jan 27, 2026)

Episode Overview

This episode of Don, Hahn & Rosenberg centers on two major topics: NFL coaching legend Bill Belichick shockingly not making the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his first ballot, and reflections on pivotal moments in New York and New Jersey sports history. The hosts, Alan Hahn and Peter Rosenberg, discuss Belichick’s legacy, the politics of Hall of Fame voting, and compare iconic franchise-defining moments. The episode delivers signature banter, robust sports insights, and notable reactions from the wider sports world.

Major Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Significance of John McLean’s Goal & the Devils’ Rise

[00:47-09:07]

• Alan Hahn highlights the induction of John McLean into the Devils’ Ring of Honor and defends the view that McLean’s OT goal in 1988 is the biggest moment in franchise history, even above their Stanley Cups.
  • “They were a joke. They were the punchline of a bad joke… Then John McLean scores a goal… and they're in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.” – Hahn [03:46]
• Rosenberg compares this to the Islanders’ own franchise-defining moment (JP Parise’s goal vs. the Rangers in 1975) and explains how every newer franchise in New York needed that singular moment to become legitimate and build a fan base.

Alan Hahn [04:33]:
“At 2:21 of overtime, John McLean beats Darren Pang, and they're in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history... The Devils go on a run... They go from irrelevant to now playing in the final four. Yeah, people started to pay attention.”

• The hosts emphasize how a region’s perception of a team changes after a breakthrough moment, encouraging fan investment.

2. NBA Rumors: Giannis and the Knicks

[09:07-14:33]

• Brief discussion shifting to Giannis Antetokounmpo: speculation about his unrest in Milwaukee and whether the Knicks should pursue him now or wait until the offseason.
• Rosenberg points out the shifting mood among Knicks fans—from not wanting to break up a good team to now desperate for a superstar after a tough losing stretch.

Rosenberg [13:04]:
“...now we're taking calls from fans saying, you gotta do whatever it takes... This team... has shown you that they're not a championship caliber team. So go get me Giannis.”

3. The Belichick Hall of Fame Snub (Main Segment)

[14:33-34:50]

The News Breaks

• Alan Hahn reveals breaking news: Bill Belichick did NOT receive enough votes for first-ballot Hall of Fame induction—an “inconceivable” development for an eight-time Super Bowl winner.
  • “How is that humanly possible?” – Hahn [14:33]

Hosts’ Outrage and Analysis

• The hosts, incredulous, dissect the possible rationale:
  • Other coaches “in queue”: Sympathy voting for those on their last ballot (e.g. Tom Coughlin, Mike Holmgren, etc.)
  • Anti-Belichick sentiment: Possibly due to the long-standing “didn’t win without Brady” argument or personal dislike.
  • Spygate: Voters possibly “punishing” him for the 2007 scandal, as suggested by NFL insiders.

Alan Hahn [16:55]:
“If you want to go the yo-yo route of, well, he never won a thing without Tom Brady, so I'm not going to put him in the Hall of Fame... How many Super Bowls did Bill Walsh win without Joe Montana?”

• Defensive Acumen: The hosts underline Belichick’s legacy even before New England: as Giants’ DC winning two Super Bowls, defensive success in New England and the Jets, and even a Cleveland playoff win.

The Double Standard: Cheating, Popularity, Hypocrisy

[25:03-34:50]

• Cheating in Sports Hall of Fame Voting:
  • They point out double standards in how cheating is treated across sports: MLB lets in Beltran (Astros scandal) and Gaylord Perry (spitballs), while keeping out PED users; NFL has historically overlooked steroids.
  • Deflategate is deemed more a “Brady scandal;” Spygate legitimately falls under Belichick.
• Popularity Contest:
  • The group argues the Hall of Fame often rewards “likable” personalities while shunning those—like Belichick—who may have amassed grudges.

Alan Hahn [27:23]:
“We don't like Bill, so we'll keep him out a year. We'll punish him... But let's see if they make Tom Brady wait.”

Power, Politics & the Voting Process

• Bill Polian’s Role:
  • Reports suggest ex-GM Bill Polian (and Kraft supporter) urged other voters to “make Belichick wait a year as penance for Spygate.”
  • This behind-the-scenes politicking horrifies the hosts, who call for greater transparency and safeguards in the voting process.
  • “The 10+ people who didn't vote for Belichick should be exposed.” – As quoted from Adam Schefter by Hahn [42:31]
  • “It’s all compromised…which means it’s all BS.” – Alan Hahn [46:22]

Listener & Industry Reactions

[40:18-42:27]

• Widespread outrage in the NFL community:
  • Booger McFarland: “A disgrace to the game of football for this to happen.”
  • Chris Carlin: “Beyond absurd.”
  • Ralph Vacchiano: “More proof the voting system is badly in need of reforms.”
  • Dan Graziano: “The Pro Football Hall of Fame voting process is monumentally stupid…”
  • J.J. Watt: “There’s not a single world whatsoever in which Bill Belichick should not be a first ballot [Hall of] Famer.”
  • Peter King reportedly incredulous and angry upon hearing the news.

4. Call-in Segment: Fandom “Fraud” & Junior College Football

[35:00-37:44]

• Listener asks if he’s a “fraud” for rooting for Syracuse on Long Island because of family connection; hosts say “no,” discussing sport fandom’s roots and Nassau Community College’s storied football past.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Alan Hahn [03:46]:
  “They were a joke... They were the punchline of a bad joke... and they're in the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.”

• Alan Hahn [14:33]:
  “How is that humanly possible? How can somebody, on any level... not vote for Bill Belichick?”

• Michael Rosenberg [21:55]:
  “He didn’t want to coach my team... Yet this is insane. This is stupid.”

• Alan Hahn [27:23]:
  “We don't like Bill, so we'll keep him out a year. We'll punish him... But let's see if they make Tom Brady wait.”

• Michael Rosenberg [42:31]:
  “Shefty’s saying... an NFL executive said the 10+ people who didn't vote for Belichick should be exposed.”

• JJ Watt (as quoted by Rosenberg, 42:08):
  “There’s not a single world whatsoever in which Bill Belichick should not be a first ballot Famer.”

Key Segment Timestamps

• 00:47-09:07 – Devils/John McLean’s moment, franchise-defining sports memories
• 09:07-14:33 – Giannis/Knicks trade speculation
• 14:33-34:50 – The Belichick Hall of Fame snub: news, analysis, cheating, process, politics
• 40:18-42:27 – National NFL/media reaction to Belichick snub
• 35:00-37:44 – Call segment: “Fandom fraud,” sports allegiances

Takeaways for New Listeners

• The outrage over Belichick’s snub resonates throughout the football community—not just New England or media “homers.”
• The hosts see the voting process as deeply flawed and possibly compromised by personal vendettas and league politics.
• Broader context: Hall of Fame selections are often as much about personality, relationships, and unwritten rules as about on-field greatness.
• Historic moments, like McLean’s OT goal, can transform a franchise’s trajectory—a distinct reminder that legends are built from singular moments, as much as legendary careers.
• The hosts offer both passionate fan perspectives and professional analysis, with humor and candidness, making the show accessible to both die-hard and casual sports fans.