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New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft in January 2026
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NEED TO KNOW
- Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots, was unsuccessful in securing a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame 2026 inductee class
- Having owned the Super Bowl-bound team since 1994, Kraft has been eligible to be inducted since 2013
- This year, he was competing against former Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who also reportedly did not secure a spot in the Class
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has once again missed out on a chance to join the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
On Tuesday, Feb. 3, ESPN reported that the 84-year-old businessman, who has owned the NFL team since 1994, missed the minimum vote to be included in the 2026 inductee class.
Kraft was one of five finalists in a group comprised of contributors, coaches and senior players competing for at most three spots in the class. To be inducted, a person needed to receive at least 40 votes from a 50-person committee, per ESPN.
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Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick in January 2017
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In the voting process, each member of the committee was able to choose three finalists. The three with the most votes who surpassed the 40-vote minimum will be inducted.
Although the official Class won't be announced until Thursday, Feb. 5 at the NFL Honors in San Francisco, Calif., reports are already suggesting that Kraft failed to land the spot. It is not clear how many votes he managed to receive or why the committee did not vote for him.
His group of nominees also included longtime Patriots coach Bill Belichick and senior players Roger Craig, Ken Anderson and L.C. Greenwood.
The report that Kraft was snubbed comes a few weeks after it was revealed that Belichick also failed to secure the necessary votes to make it into the Hall of Fame.
Anonymous sources explained to ESPN that Belichick, an eight-time Super Bowl winner, might have failed to secure the necessary votes due to "politics" and controversies over the course of his career in the league, adding that the decision was not "a reflection on his accomplishments."
Kraft addressed reports that Belichick had not been selected for the Hall of Fame in a statement shared with Associated Press sports reporter Kyle Hightower. Despite some bad blood between the longtime owner and coach, he made it clear that he supported Belichick and recognized his talent.
“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," he said.
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Robert Kraft holds the Lombardi Trophy in February 2017
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Continuing, Kraft added, “As head coach of the New England Patriots for more than two decades, he set the standard for on-field excellence, preparation, and sustained success in the free agency and salary cap era of the National Football League."
“He is the greatest coach of all time and he unequivocally deserves to be a unanimous first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer," he concluded.
The Patriots have won six Super Bowl rings under Kraft's ownership and Belichick's coaching. They are headed to the 2026 Super Bowl on Sunday, Feb. 8, where they compete against the Seattle Seahawks in an attempt to bring home a seventh win.
As owner, Kraft has been eligible to be inducted into the Hall of Fame since 2013, but he not yet been successful.
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