Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders blasted the Hall of Fame selection process after Bill Belichick’s snub became public. The NFL Hall of Famer didn’t hold back when discussing the news.
Sanders seemed genuinely upset about Belichick missing out. But he’s been calling for exactly this kind of stricter standards for years.
The Colorado coach has publicly demanded more stringent Hall of Fame protocols since 2020. Sanders regularly weighs in on sports issues when asked and he’s never shy about offering solutions.
Just this past year, Sanders suggested fines or suspensions for uniform violations. He’s mentioned putting college players on contracts with a hard salary cap. He also wants college football officiated more like the NFL.
Sanders claims the Hall is no longer exclusive
Mike Sando of The Athletic posted about Sanders complaining that undeserving players were making the Hall of Fame. The tweet referenced a Dan Patrick Show segment from exactly six years ago.
On January 28th, 2020, Sanders was asked about the Hall of Fame. He didn’t mince words.
“When it comes to the NFL, what is dern a Hall of Famer? Once upon a time, a Hall of Famer was a guy who changed the dern game! That’s not a Hall of Famer anymore. Every Tom, Dick and Harry… you’re a Hall of Famer, you’re a Hall of Famer, they let anybody in this thing now. It’s not exclusive anymore and I don’t like it.”
Sanders painted the situation like the Hall of Fame committee has a yearly quota to fill.
His point was simple: if you have to think about whether someone belongs, they probably don’t. At least not as a first-ballot selection. He’d argue this clearly doesn’t apply to someone like Belichick.
Sanders called for an Upper Room in 2022
Sanders’ “Upper Room” idea got widespread support when he floated it. The concept is straightforward: create a separate space for the best of the best.
CBS Sports reported his proposal: one room, 22 players. Eleven on offense, eleven on defense representing the greatest in football history.
It would create a top tier of Hall of Famers separate from everyone else.
“The Hall of Fame ain’t the Hall of Fame no more. I love it, I respect it, I admire it. I think all the guys who are inducted are definitely deserving, but it needs to be a different color jacket. My jacket’s gotta be a different color.”
Sanders’ reaction to Belichick’s snub was predictable from a fellow Hall of Famer. But he’s been pushing for stricter entrance criteria for years now.
He’s wanted an element that separates the greatest from the rest for quite some time. He probably just didn’t expect his suggestions to start being applied with Belichick.
