Five Former Coaches Advance in Hall of Fame Process
A Pro Football Hall of Fame subcommittee moved five former coaches forward for the class of 2027 consideration.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Football
A Pro Football Hall of Fame subcommittee advanced five former coaches in the class of 2027 process on Thursday. Bill Belichick is considered the favorite to be the one coach finalist the subcommittee will select.
Why it matters
The process narrows the field of coaches before the full Hall of Fame committee votes on finalists early next year. Coaching candidates must clear several stages before induction, and the outcome shapes which coaching careers are recognized nationally.
Induction requires 80% of the vote from the 25-person committee, and the five advancing coaches are among the candidates in that process. The subcommittee meets again Nov. 17 to choose one coach finalist from the group.
The players
Bill Belichick
Belichick coached the New England Patriots from 2000-23, winning six Super Bowls and widely regarded as one of the most accomplished head coaches in NFL history.
Mike Shanahan
Shanahan coached the Denver Broncos from 1995-2008 and won Super Bowls in the 1997 and 1998 seasons.
Mike Holmgren
Holmgren coached the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks, leading Super Bowl appearances with both franchises.
The details
Mike Shanahan and Dan Reeves are being considered for the class of 2027, and Tom Coughlin and Mike Holmgren also advanced. Belichick won six Super Bowls coaching the New England Patriots from 2000-23 but was not inducted in the class of 2026.
Timeline
Thursday (Nov. 5, 2026): Subcommittee advanced five former coaches.
Nov. 17, 2026: Subcommittee meets to select one coach finalist.
Early 2027: Hall of Fame committee votes on 15 total finalists.
Season Trajectory
Belichick did not make the Hall of Fame for the class of 2026, and he is now considered the favorite to be the single coach finalist. The current advancement places the 2027 coaching class among the most closely watched Hall of Fame cycles in recent years.
The single coach finalist chosen Nov. 17 will be the candidate the full committee evaluates most closely in early 2027. Fans tracking Hall of Fame eligibility can use the 80% voting threshold to gauge how difficult induction is for each candidate.
The takeaway
Coaches advancing through this process face a 25-person committee requiring 80% support, so the finalist chosen Nov. 17 carries real weight. Readers tracking the Hall of Fame can watch that meeting as the next clear signal.
What happens next
The subcommittee meets Nov. 17, 2026, to select one coach finalist, and the full Hall of Fame committee votes on 15 finalists in early 2027.
Further reading
Follow the latest coverage in our Football section for more on the Hall of Fame process.
