Bill Belichick will become eligible for Pro Football Hall of Fame in the Class of 2026

Bill Belichick is finalizing a deal to become the head coach at the University of North Carolina.

That makes him eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026, a spokesman for the Hall of Fame confirmed.

The Hall of Fame changed some rules this year, including the length of time coaches are required to be out of professional football before becoming eligible for induction. (Yes, college football has become pro football, but the Pro Football Hall of Fame still doesn't count it.)

Previously, coaches had to be out of the game for five seasons before earning enshrinement. Now, coaches have only a one-season waiting period.

Since Belichick didn't coach in 2024, he is eligible for the next class.

Mike Holmgren is the coaching finalist for the Class of 2025.

Belichick appears a no-brainer, first-ballot inductee, but Bill Parcells didn't get elected in his first year of eligibility. Parcells, under previous rules that didn't have a separate coaching category, was not voted into the Class of 2012.

Some voters expressed skepticism that Parcells would remain retired, but he did, and he was elected a year later. Selectors could have the same reservation about Belichick.

Current rules allow for only one coaching finalist a year, so if Belichick is the choice for the Class of 2026, it will push back the possible inductions of Mike Shanahan and Tom Coughlin.