Bill Belichick’s name has been synonymous with National Football League (NFL) greatness for so long that his absence on the first ballot of the Pro Football Hall of Fame comes off less like news and more like a categorical mistyping of history. Yet, in a jury composed largely of veteran NFL media and former figures in the sport, more than enough withheld support for him. That the developments could color a Hall vote reflect the varying degrees with which sporting achievement is celebrated. Is legacy determined purely from statistical and strategic standpoints, or does it have to be tempered by character and context? If nothing else, the unnecessary complication of his Hall of Fame journey shines the spotlight on them.