There will be no pats on the back for these two Patriots legends this week.
According to reports, team owner Robert Kraft will be on the outside looking in when the Pro Football Hall of Fame announces its class of 2026 on Thursday.
Kraft will be joining legendary coach Bill Belichick, who despite winning eight Super Bowls over the course of his career – six as head coach for Kraft’s Patriots — did not make the cut.
ESPN reported on Tuesday morning that Kraft fell short of the 40 votes out of 50 made by the selection committee required to gain enshrinement into the Hall.
Kraft had been named a finalist in the contributor category alongside Belichick and senior finalists Roger Craig, Ken Anderson and L.C. Greenwood.
The voters were asked to pick three of the five finalists and the one-to-three people who earn at least 40 of 50 votes would then be enshrined in Canton, Ohio.
While he did reportedly fall short, being named a finalist was the closet that Kraft has gotten to entering the Hall during his 14 years of eligibility.
What is Kraft’s history in the NFL?
Kraft purchased the Patriots franchise in 1994, saving the team from a potential move to St. Louis. Under his ownership, the Pats have won 374 games and captured six Super Bowl championships – all coming with Belichick at the helm.
Kraft also played a key role in ending the 2011 lockout and has been an active member on several committees.
The 84-year-old Kraft is aiming to join contemporary owners Jerry Jones, Pat Bowlen, Eddie DeBartolo Jr., Ralph Wilson and Dan Rooney in Canton, but will have to wait at least one more year.
Kraft voiced support for Belichick
While Kraft being passed over for induction will be surprising to many, it pales in comparison of the decision to keep Belichick out.
Kraft showed his support for the former Pats coach after reports surfaced last week that he had missed the cut.
“I strongly believe Bill Belichick’s record and body of work speak for themselves,” Kraft said in a statement to the Associated Press.
“As head coach of the New England Patriots for more than two decades, he set the standard for on-field excellence, preparation, and sustained success in the free agency and salary cap era of the National Football League.
“He is the greatest coach of all time and he unequivocally deserves to be a unanimous first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer.”
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell also showed support for the pair during a Super Bowl week press conference on Monday night.
“Bill Belichick’s record goes without saying, same with the Patriots and Robert Kraft, who is also a candidate. They are spectacular. They have contributed so much to this game, and I believe they will be Hall of Famers,” Goodell said, per Adam Schefter.