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Pro Football Hall of Fame President Jim Porter announced plans on Thursday evening in New Orleans to review and potentially overhaul the institution's voting procedures following public backlash over the omission of legendary coach Bill Belichick from the 2026 induction class. The decision to consider these structural changes comes as the Hall of Fame faces criticism for its recent policy of grouping coaches and contributors with 'senior' era players, a bottleneck that many believe unfairly delayed the induction of the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach. Porter stated that while the Hall aims to protect the integrity of the selection process, the current outcry has highlighted the need for a more modernized and transparent approach to honoring the game's icons. Among the most significant changes under consideration is the return to in-person deliberations for the 50-member selection committee. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, these high-stakes discussions have been conducted virtually, but officials believe that face-to-face debates lead to more robust and thorough evaluations of candidates. Additionally, the Hall is looking to move the official vote closer to the 'NFL Honors' ceremony to prevent information leaks and is weighing the possibility of making individual ballots and vote totals public in future years to increase accountability among the selectors. The controversy intensified after voter Vahe Gregorian publicly admitted to passing over Belichick in favor of senior players Ken Anderson, Roger Craig, and L.C. Greenwood. Gregorian argued that the 'last chance' status of these aging players compelled him to prioritize them over Belichick, even though he acknowledged the former Patriots coach was technically the most qualified candidate. This admission has prompted Jim Porter to signal a potential crackdown on voters who may be violating Hall rules by not voting for the 'most deserving' candidates or by revealing confidential details of the committee's private debates. Furthermore, the Hall is examining the current structure that forces coaches to compete for limited spots against former players and contributors. While Porter seemed hesitant to dismantle the newly formed combined category immediately, he emphasized that the Hall’s leadership will assess every facet of the process to ensure that figures who have profoundly impacted the sport are not left in a procedural limbo. The potential reshuffling of the voting panel itself is also on the table, as the organization seeks to ensure that all members are adhering strictly to the established bylaws of the induction process.