Patriots owner joins Belichick as Pro Football Hall of Fame snub
Like Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft won’t be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year.
The New England Patriots owner did not receive the necessary minimum 40 of 50 possible votes to be selected to the 2026 class, ESPN reported Tuesday.
Kraft had been the contributor finalist, while Belichick had been the coaching finalist. Anywhere from 1-to-3 candidates will be selected among a pool of five coach, contributor and senior player finalists. Roger Craig, Ken Anderson and L.C. Greenwood are the senior finalists.
Meanwhile, 3 to 5 of the 15 modern-era finalists – which include Drew Brees and Larry Fitzgerald, among others – are to be selected.
Belichick was revealed last week to have not made the cut, with Kraft coming out in support of his former coach.
‘Whatever perceptions may exist about any personal differences between Bill and me, I strongly believe Bill Belichick’s record and body of work speak for themselves,’ Kraft said in a statement.
Kraft, 84, purchased the Patriots in 1994, saving the organization from potential relocation and steering it to one of the most successful runs in league history. After Belichick’s hire in January 2000, the franchise went on to win six Super Bowls, tying it with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most of any team.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2026 class will be unveiled Thursday night at the NFL Honors ceremony in San Francisco.
