In an unprecedented emergency recording, Kirk Buchner and Evan Nolan—joined by Jack Silverstein, Ron Katz, and Chris Mouradian—react to breaking news that Bill Belichick has been shockingly excluded from the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2026. With results leaking just hours before their scheduled show, the panel dissects how the greatest coach of the modern era could miss first-ballot induction: Was it Bill Polian's behind-the-scenes maneuvering? Flawed 2025 voting rules creating a "zero-sum game" among Kraft, Belichick, and senior candidates? Or a perfect storm of process failure? The conversation expands to baseball's Hall of Fame results (Beltran and Jones in; Pettitte's surprising surge), recent number retirements for Fedorov, Chara, Aguirre and Rose, and tributes to legends lost—including NHL icon Glenn Hall and 49ers great John Brodie. A must-listen deep dive into what this historic miss means for Canton's credibility heading into Super Bowl week.

This historic Hall of Fame miss demands accountability. Subscribe to "The Buck Stops Here" wherever you get podcasts, leave a 5-star review to help others discover our deep dives, and follow @NotInHallOfFame on social media for real-time coverage as the story unfolds during Super Bowl week. Most importantly: Share this episode with one football fan who needs to hear why Canton's credibility is on the line—and join our growing community fighting for a fairer Hall of Fame process. The buck stops here.

Season 7 kicks off with a deep dive into the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists! Kirk Buchner and Evan Nolan break down every candidate—from locks like Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald, to controversial names like Eli Manning, to long-overlooked stars like Kevin Williams and Frank Gore.We also tackle:The flawed HOF voting system & why fewer modern players are getting inRunning back logjam: Is Fred Taylor done? What about Marshawn Lynch?Wide receiver debate: Torry Holt vs. Reggie WayneTight end showdown: Jason Witten vs. Rob GronkowskiPlus: Basketball Hall of Fame dysfunction, recent celebrity & sports passings, and a preview of the United States Athletic Hall of Fame ballot!🔔 Don't forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode of Not In Hall of Fame—the show that debates who deserves to be immortalized in sports history.🌐 Visit us at: notinhalloffame.com

In this special episode of The Buck Stops Here, host Kirk Buchner is joined by Pro Football Hall of Fame expert Paul Lawrence to break down the 2026 Modern-Era Finalists. They dive deep into the tough new voting rules, analyze locks like Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald, debate the cases of Eli Manning, Frank Gore, Willie Anderson, and the surprising rise of Kevin Williams—plus predictions on who actually gets in this year.Will the class expand beyond three inductees? Who’s stuck in positional logjams? And could this finally be the year for Darren Woodson or Torry Holt? All that and more—including insights on Jason Witten, kickers, and how the Patriots’ Belichick/Kraft factor might affect the vote.🔗 Learn more at NotInHallOfFame.com🗳️ Cast your vote in the upcoming United States Athletics Hall of Fame ballot—coming mid-March at USAHOF.com