As the Patriots head into their bye week with an NFL-best 11-2 record, New England fans are finally catching their breath from what's been a whirlwind start to the Drake Maye-Mike Vrabel era. But while the present looks promising, this week offers a perfect moment to reflect on the legacy that built the foundation - and the two towering figures who helped shape it: Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick.
Both Kraft and Belichick were named individual finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026. It’s a long-overdue recognition for two men who, together, helped engineer one of the most dominant dynasties in NFL history.
Robert Kraft: Contributor, Architect, Lightning Rod
At 84 years old, Kraft is finally getting his shot through the Hall’s contributor committee, which took 14 years to nominate him. That’s a long wait for someone whose impact on the league is hard to overstate. Under Kraft’s ownership, the Patriots became a model franchise - six Super Bowl titles, nine AFC Championships, and a culture of sustained excellence that few teams in any sport have ever matched.
But Kraft’s legacy isn’t without controversy. From Spygate and Deflategate to his 2019 legal issues, his tenure has had its share of off-field headlines. Still, when you look at the totality of his contributions - not just to the Patriots, but to the league’s business and media evolution - his Hall of Fame case is more than solid.
Bill Belichick: The Greatest Coach Ever?
Then there’s Belichick, who now has a clearer path to Canton thanks to the Hall separating coaches and contributors into distinct categories starting in 2024. Assuming he doesn’t take another head coaching job in the next hiring cycle, Belichick is all but certain to be inducted in his first year of eligibility.
And frankly, how could he not be?
Belichick’s résumé is unmatched: six Super Bowl wins as a head coach, nine appearances, and two more rings from his days as the defensive coordinator with the Giants. That’s eight total - a number he’s never shy about reminding people of, whether he’s on the sidelines or sailing off the coast of Nantucket.
He’s not just a coach; he’s a football institution. The man who drafted and developed Tom Brady.
The architect of one of the most complex, adaptable defenses in NFL history. The strategist who turned Foxborough into a fortress.
But not everyone sees him as a slam-dunk first-ballot inductee - including one of his former players.
Ted Johnson’s Pushback: A Complicated History
Former Patriots linebacker Ted Johnson made headlines this week with his comments on WEEI, where he questioned whether Belichick deserves first-ballot Hall of Fame status. Johnson, who played under Belichick from 2000 to 2004 and won three Super Bowls, has long had a strained relationship with his former coach.
His concerns stem from a 2007 New York Times article in which he linked his post-career mental health struggles to repeated hits in practice while recovering from a concussion - something he says happened under Belichick’s watch. Belichick denied knowledge of Johnson’s condition at the time, but their relationship has been fractured ever since.
Now, Johnson is taking aim at Belichick’s Hall of Fame candidacy, citing the coach’s involvement in multiple scandals.
“I would say Belichick, by far, is the most responsible for the cheating scandals,” Johnson said. “He knew the rules and still broke them.
So to say he deserves to go into the Hall of Fame, first-ballot? I don’t agree with it.”
Johnson made it clear he believes Belichick will eventually get in - just not on the first ballot. He’s not alone in pointing out that Belichick’s legacy is complicated. But when it comes to impact on the game, the numbers - and the rings - speak louder than the noise.
The Reality: A Legacy Too Big to Deny
There’s no question that the Patriots’ dynasty came with its share of controversy. Lines were blurred.
Rules were bent - sometimes broken. The NFL responded with fines, suspensions, and policy changes.
But through it all, the Patriots kept winning. Kept innovating.
Kept dominating.
And at the heart of it all were Kraft and Belichick.
Whether you’re a fan of the Patriots or not, the legacy they built is undeniable. Belichick may not be a Hall of Fame person, as Johnson alluded to, but as a coach?
He’s the gold standard. The blueprint.
The guy every other coach is measured against.
Kraft, meanwhile, helped turn a regional franchise into a global brand and played a key role in shaping the modern NFL business landscape. His induction may have taken longer than expected, but it’s no less deserved.
When the Hall of Fame Class of 2026 is announced, expect both men to be front and center. And in just a few short years, Tom Brady will join them in Canton, capping off an era that changed football forever.
This week, the Patriots rest. But their legacy? That’s already etched in stone.