The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026 is starting to take shape, and two of the most iconic figures in New England Patriots history - Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick - are officially among the five finalists selected by the Hall’s Blue-Ribbon Committees. That sets the stage for a potentially historic moment: the architect and the mastermind of the Patriots dynasty could be headed to Canton together.
Joining Kraft and Belichick on the finalist list are three standout figures from earlier eras: quarterback Ken Anderson, running back Roger Craig, and defensive end L.C. Greenwood.
The full Hall of Fame selection committee will vote on these five names next year, with each member allowed to vote for up to three candidates. To earn enshrinement, a finalist must receive at least 80% of the vote.
If no one hits that mark, the finalist with the highest percentage gets the nod - which means Kraft and Belichick could either go in together or end up competing for a single spot.
Let’s start with Kraft. Since buying the Patriots in 1994, he’s transformed the franchise from a struggling team with an uncertain future into one of the NFL’s crown jewels.
Under his leadership, the Patriots have become a model of sustained excellence - six Super Bowl titles, nine appearances, and a global brand that’s as valuable as any in the league. Kraft’s impact goes far beyond the win column; he’s been a key figure in league-wide business decisions and has helped shape the modern NFL both on and off the field.
Then there’s Belichick, who didn’t just coach the Patriots - he built a dynasty. After arriving in New England in 2000, he delivered the franchise’s first Super Bowl win in just his second season.
Over the next two decades, he and Tom Brady formed arguably the most successful coach-QB duo in league history. Belichick finished his NFL head coaching career with 333 wins, second only to Don Shula.
His résumé includes 31 playoff victories, six Super Bowl rings, and a reputation as one of the greatest defensive minds the game has ever seen.
But while their on-field partnership was legendary, their off-field relationship became more complicated in recent years. Belichick’s departure after the 2023 season was marked by reported friction over how his tenure ended, casting a bit of a shadow over what had been one of the most successful coach-owner pairings in sports history. Still, that doesn't diminish what they accomplished together - and the Hall of Fame committee will have to decide whether their legacy is best honored side by side.
This is Belichick’s first year of eligibility under the Hall’s recently updated rules, which shortened the waiting period for coaches from five years to just one. That tweak has fast-tracked his candidacy, and given his credentials, it’s no surprise he’s already a finalist.
The other three finalists bring their own compelling cases.
Roger Craig made history in 1985 as the first player to rack up 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season - a feat that speaks to his versatility in an era when dual-threat backs were rare. He was a key piece of the San Francisco 49ers’ dynasty, winning three Super Bowls and helping define the West Coast offense under Bill Walsh. With Super Bowl LX set to be played at Levi’s Stadium, the timing of Craig’s candidacy feels especially fitting.
Ken Anderson, meanwhile, was a steady force under center for the Cincinnati Bengals across 16 seasons. He hit his peak in 1981, when he was named league MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, and Comeback Player of the Year - all in the same season. He led the Bengals to their first Super Bowl appearance that year and finished his career as one of the most efficient passers of his time.
Then there’s L.C. Greenwood, a cornerstone of Pittsburgh’s legendary “Steel Curtain” defense.
Greenwood won four Super Bowls with the Steelers, earned six Pro Bowl selections, and was a disruptive force off the edge during the team’s dominant run in the 1970s. He spent his entire 13-year career in Pittsburgh and remains one of the most respected defenders in franchise history.
The Hall of Fame will announce its Class of 2026 during Super Bowl LX week in San Francisco. Last year, only one of the five Blue-Ribbon Committee finalists - former Packers wideout Sterling Sharpe - was voted in, underscoring just how competitive this process can be.
This is also just the second year that the Hall has separated the coach and contributor categories, with the Blue-Ribbon Committees selecting one finalist from each. That shift has opened the door for figures like Kraft and Belichick to be considered on their own merits - and potentially enshrined together, as the faces of a dynasty that changed the NFL.