Robert Kraft Misses Hall of Fame Nod Again, Belichick Also Left Out in First Year of Eligibility
Robert Kraft’s wait for a gold jacket continues.
The longtime New England Patriots owner was not selected for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year, despite being a finalist in the contributor category. According to sources, Kraft didn’t receive the required number of votes from the 50-person selection committee, marking yet another near miss in what’s now a 14-year journey toward Canton.
Kraft, now 84, has been eligible since the 2013 class and was a semifinalist last year before being edged out by Ralph Hay. This time around, he was one of five finalists in the contributors/coaches/senior players category - a group limited to individuals whose primary contributions came before 2001.
The voting process allows for up to three of those five to be inducted, but only if they each receive at least 40 votes. If no one crosses that threshold, only the top vote-getter gets in.
Kraft’s résumé is tough to ignore. Since purchasing the Patriots in 1994, New England has become one of the NFL’s model franchises, tallying 374 wins and appearing in 11 Super Bowls.
That kind of sustained success over three decades doesn’t happen by accident. Kraft has been front and center for it all - from hiring Bill Belichick to playing a key role in the league’s business and labor negotiations, including helping broker peace during the 2011 lockout as a member of several high-level NFL committees.
Speaking of Belichick, the legendary head coach didn’t make the cut either in his first year of Hall of Fame eligibility. The six-time Super Bowl champion reportedly fell short of the minimum vote total, a decision that raised plenty of eyebrows around the league.
Kraft, who has had a complicated relationship with Belichick in recent years, didn’t let any perceived tension cloud his public stance. “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 in a statement last week.
And he’s not wrong. Belichick’s 333 combined wins are second only to Don Shula’s 347 all-time, and he led the Patriots to nine Super Bowl appearances in his 18 seasons at the helm. His impact on the modern NFL is undeniable, and while his coaching future remains uncertain, his legacy is already etched into league history.
For now, though, both Kraft and Belichick will have to wait. The Hall of Fame door isn’t closed, but it’s not opening just yet. And with each passing year, the conversation around their omissions only grows louder.