The NFL community is in uproar once again after franchise owner Robert Kraft joined former coach Bill Belichick in a stunning first-ballot Hall of Famer snub. Now, expert Stephen A. Smith believes Tom Brady could be next, and he's not beating around the bush.

“I wasn’t surprised, I was appalled... Based on the trend, they're going to do it to Tom Brady, too. It makes no sense whatsoever, and as far as I'm concerned, it's the Hall of Shame," said Smith.

“They’ve (HoF) minimized and diluted their own product. If you can’t have Tom Bardy up in there as the first Hall of Famer, the credibility of the institution goes right out the window,” he added.

Tom Brady became a star with the Patriots and won six out of his seven championships with Belichick coaching him. Out of the three quarterback-head coach duos that played for the Lombardi Trophy, Brady and Belichick were the best.

This ordeal started last Thursday when the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced that Belichick was not voted into the 2026 class. This was his first year as an eligible member, but a report earlier that week concluded that some members “violated the selection process bylaws.”

It was later revealed that Belichick was not inducted after missing out by just one of the 40 votes needed from the 50-member panel. 

Stephen A. Smith also reacted to Robert Kraft's snub

Kraft has tasted more success than any other franchise owner in the NFL. In his 32 years, the Patriots become a dynasty that remained on top for over 20 years. 

After seven dud years, Kraft is witnessing his team’s rise again with Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye. Pointing out the sheer longevity of Kraft’s career and his achievements,

Stephen A. Smith called this snub “egregious” and “absolutely disgusting.”

“In 32 years, he has 13 more regular-season games, 13 more postseason games than any other NFL team. This is the man that has 20 division titles in 32 seasons, and this is 11th appearance in the Super Bowl,” Smith reminded.

The NFL community is on the same with Smith. Everyone from Patrick Mahomes, Deion Sanders, and even NBA legend LeBron James called Bill Belichick's omission disrespectful.

So the question is: Will Stephen A. Smith's prediction about Tom Brady come true? Tell us what you think about it in the comments.

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi