Stephen A Smith warns Hall of Fame if Tom Brady is denied first-ballot: ‘Burn down the building’

With Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft some missing retired connected being first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famers, ESPN property Stephen A. Smith got to reasoning — what happens erstwhile Tom Brady tin beryllium voted on?

The legendary quarterback, who spent 2 decades starring a dynasty with the New England Patriots, has all-time NFL records and 7 Super Bowl rings to boot. If there's anyone acceptable to beryllium a first-ballot Hall of Famer, it's Brady.

But that was until Belichick, his caput manager successful New England, shockingly missed retired connected his travel to Canton connected his archetypal ballot. Waves of displeasure with the Hall of Fame came crashing down, and the speech roseate during Super Bowl week, wherever the Patriots find themselves backmost successful the large game, arsenic Kraft didn't gain capable votes either.

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(L-R) Tom Brady and Stephen A. Smith talk onstage astatine the Fanatics Fest NYC 2024 astatine Jacob Javits Center connected Aug. 16, 2024 successful New York City.  (Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)

Smith went connected ESPN's "First Take" to airs a question to his chap panelists.

"What you going to bash next? You’re going to contradict Tom Brady? You’re going to contradict Tom Brady? You’re going to look astatine Tom Brady and beryllium similar this, ‘You don’t spell to the Hall of Fame?'" Smith said to the group.

"You mightiness arsenic good pain down the gathering if that happens — determination is nary Hall of Fame. If you can’t person Tom Brady up successful determination arsenic a first-ballot Hall of Famer, the credibility of the instauration that is the Hall of Fame goes close retired the freaking window. It’s over. We recognize that, right?"

PATRIOTS' ROBERT KRAFT MISSES OUT ON PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME: REPORTS

Smith besides spoke astir Kraft missing out, arsenic helium was besides portion of the present infamous five-man radical that included elder candidates — L.C. Greenwood, Roger Craig and Ken Anderson — and Belichick. Voters were lone allowed to elite 3 of the candidates for the Hall this year, starring immoderate voters to take the seniors owed to their imaginable last accidental to scope Canton.

"I wasn’t surprised, I was appalled," Smith said astir the Kraft quality that came retired connected Tuesday. "Obviously, helium deserves to beryllium a Hall of Famer. He’s been the proprietor for 32 years. In 32 years, helium has 13 much regular-season games, 13 much postseason games than immoderate different NFL squad for carrying retired loud. This is simply a antheral who’s won 20 part titles successful 32 seasons. This is simply a man, that successful his 32-year reign arsenic the owner, they’ve been to the Super Bowl with 3 antithetic caput coach-quarterback combinations. Bill Parcells and Drew Bledsoe, Belichick with Brady, and present [Mike] Vrabel with Drake Maye. This is the antheral that has been astatine the helm.

Fox Sports expert Tom Brady arrives astatine the stadium earlier an NFL crippled betwixt the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs astatine GEHA Field astatine Arrowhead Stadium successful Kansas City, Missouri, connected Sept. 14, 2025. (Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

"We each cognize it’s egregious, we each cognize it’s perfectly disgusting. The Hall of Fame should beryllium the 'Hall of Shame.' They’ve minimized and diluted their ain product, and they don’t adjacent cognize however severely they’ve done it arsenic of yet."

Smith doesn't privation the "trend" to proceed with Brady, but helium is linked to those Patriots years erstwhile scandals similar Spygate and Deflategate, which reportedly worked their mode into the voting statement for Belichick, and possibly Kraft arsenic well.

"Let’s instrumentality Spygate, let’s instrumentality Deflategate, let’s instrumentality each of that. What manager would accidental Bill Belichick doesn’t merit to beryllium a first-ballot Hall of Famer? No one. What proprietor would accidental Robert Kraft doesn’t merit to beryllium a first-ballot Hall of Famer? No one," Smith added.

Fox broadcaster Tom Brady is seen earlier the crippled betwixt the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams astatine SoFi Stadium successful Inglewood, California, connected Dec. 14, 2025. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

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"You couldn’t find a subordinate successful Pop Warner that would archer you Tom Brady doesn’t merit to beryllium a first-ballot Hall of Famer, fto unsocial precocious school, college, pro. There is nary jock successful immoderate athletics connected the planet, successful America oregon the satellite over, that would archer you Tom Brady ain’t a first-ballot Hall of Famer."

Modern-era candidates are eligible for the Hall of Fame 5 years aft retirement, which means Brady won't beryllium capable to get elected into Canton until 2028. However, that's inactive a beauteous adjacent clip frame.

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