The Herd with Colin Cowherd THE HERD - Hour 3 - Defending Belichick
Jan 29, 2026
Ian O'Connor, longtime sports reporter and bestselling author, mounts a defense of Bill Belichick's Hall of Fame case. He contrasts post-2007 results with Spygate, compares Belichick to PED-era controversies, and calls for Hall voting reform. Short, pointed conversations explore voter biases, team dynamics, and how reputations shape legacies.
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Belichick's Career Outweighs Spygate
- Ian O'Connor argues Bill Belichick's post-2007 record overwhelmingly outweighs Spygate and warrants first-ballot Hall of Fame entry.
- He frames Spygate as a brief chapter, not a career-defining disqualification.
Success Can Eclipse Transgressions
- O'Connor compares Belichick to PED-era baseball figures, saying overwhelming achievement can eclipse transgressions.
- He suggests voting standards and ballot mechanics caused the Hall of Fame embarrassment.
Fix Voting Rules To Clear Backlog
- O'Connor recommends Hall of Fame reforms: allow voting for all candidates and lower the induction threshold to 75%.
- He warns backlog and overcorrection exclude worthy modern-era candidates.
