New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has been denied entry into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026, with the longtime franchise figure falling short in voting alongside former head coach Bill Belichick.
Kraft, a first-time finalist this year, did not receive enough votes from the Hall of Fame’s 50-person selection committee to secure induction. The Class of 2026 will be formally announced on Thursday night at the NFL Honours in San Francisco.
Revised voting rules introduced in 2025 placed Kraft and Belichick in direct competition. Kraft was the lone contributor finalist, while Belichick was the coaching candidate among a five-person group that also included former players Roger Craig, Ken Anderson and L.C. Greenwood.
Each voter selected three of the five finalists, with between one and three candidates eligible for induction provided they received at least 40 votes. If no candidate reached that threshold, the top vote-getter would be elected.
Kraft publicly backed his former coach following Belichick’s omission.
“Bill Belichick is the greatest coach of all time and he unequivocally deserves to be a unanimous first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer,” Kraft said in a statement.
Kraft’s own exclusion appears to dispel speculation that voter support for the owner contributed to Belichick being left out.
“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,” Kraft added.
“He set the standard for excellence, preparation and sustained success in the free agency and salary cap era of the National Football League.”
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell echoed that sentiment earlier this week and suggested both figures would eventually be inducted.
“Bill Belichick’s record goes without saying, same with the Patriots and Robert Kraft,” Goodell said. “They are spectacular. They have contributed so much to this game, and I believe they will be Hall of Famers.”
The decision means neither of the two figures most closely associated with the Patriots’ dynasty will enter the Hall this year, despite New England reaching Super Bowl LX.
Since Kraft purchased the franchise in 1994, the Patriots have won six Super Bowl titles and made 10 appearances in the championship game, more than any owner in NFL history.
Belichick, hired in 2000, oversaw six Super Bowl victories and compiled 333 combined regular-season and postseason wins with New England and Cleveland, second only to Don Shula.
