In the wake of the Patriots’ gritty 10-7 win over the Broncos in the AFC Championship Game, New England is headed to its 11th Super Bowl appearance under Robert Kraft’s ownership. That milestone has reignited a long-simmering debate about legacy, recognition, and what it truly means to be considered one of the NFL’s greatest franchise owners.
Kraft, who bought the Patriots in 1994, has built a dynasty that’s defined the modern NFL. Eleven Super Bowl appearances.
Six Lombardi Trophies. A two-decade run of sustained excellence that few-if any-teams in league history can match.
Yet despite all that hardware, Kraft still finds himself on the outside looking in when it comes to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He’s been passed over 13 times.
Contrast that with Jerry Jones. The longtime Cowboys owner was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017.
But his team hasn’t been to a Super Bowl since the 1995 season-30 years ago. That’s a tough pill to swallow for fans who’ve watched the Cowboys struggle to recapture their former glory.
This season, Dallas finished 7-9-1, second in the NFC East, and missed the playoffs for the second straight year. It’s a far cry from the dynasty days of the early '90s.
The juxtaposition is striking. Kraft, whose fingerprints are all over one of the greatest runs in league history, is still waiting for his gold jacket. Jones, whose Cowboys have been mired in mediocrity for much of the past two decades, already has his.
Kraft, for his part, isn’t slowing down. On a recent episode of The Quick Snap podcast, the 82-year-old spoke about what still drives him after all these years-and why retirement isn’t on his radar.
“Seeing what it means to the community, wherever I go,” Kraft said. “Having the Patriots back, having something we can rally around-that gives me special energy every day. Hearing the fans and their appreciation puts a great responsibility on my family to do whatever we can to put us in the position to win.”
That connection to the fanbase, that sense of purpose, is what’s kept Kraft pushing forward even after reaching the mountaintop multiple times. And now, with another Super Bowl appearance on the horizon, he’s once again proving why his name belongs in the Hall.
Meanwhile, Jerry Jones continues to chase a legacy that feels increasingly out of reach. At 83, Jones isn’t ready to step away either. In a press conference earlier this month, he laid out his vision for the future-and the one thing he wants to accomplish before he calls it quits.
“My goal in life is to retire as the owner that won the most Super Bowls,” Jones said. “That’s my goal.
To be retired in the NFL as the owner that won the most Super Bowls. We’ve got three… I’ve got work to do.
But at least I’m up second rung in the ladder.”
It’s a bold goal, and one that reflects the competitive fire that’s fueled Jones since he bought the Cowboys in 1989. But with three titles to Kraft’s six-and no appearances since 1995-the gap has only widened. And with each passing season, the pressure mounts.
The Hall of Fame conversation isn’t just about rings. It’s about impact.
Influence. Legacy.
But when you look at what Robert Kraft has accomplished-on the field, in the community, and as a stabilizing force in one of the league’s most successful eras-it’s hard to argue he hasn’t earned his place among the game’s immortals.
For now, the Patriots are back in the big game. The Cowboys are back to the drawing board. And the debate over which owner belongs in the Hall of Fame continues-but the numbers, and the results, speak volumes.