The lights were already set in San Francisco, and another NFL Honors night was ready to crown legacies. The confirmed result, however, was that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was not voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
Multiple league sources told ESPN that Kraft, a first-time finalist in the contributor category, failed to receive enough support from the 50-member Hall of Fame selection committee. The Class of 2026 will be announced Thursday night, but Kraft’s name will not be among those headed to Canton, Ohio this year.
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The decision came under the Hall’s revised voting rules, implemented for the 2025 cycle. Contributors, coaches, and senior players were grouped into a single pool of five finalists, with voters selecting three names. Between one and three candidates could be elected, provided they reached a minimum of 40 votes. If no one reached that threshold, only the top vote-getter would advance.
Kraft’s candidacy was directly tied to that new structure. He was one of five finalists alongside former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and players Roger Craig, Ken Anderson, and L.C. Greenwood. ESPN reported last week that Belichick also fell short of the 40-vote requirement, fueling debate around whether the format diluted support across the ballot rather than consolidating it.
“What matters to me is we win Sunday…
A dynasty paused at Canton’s door
Kraft publicly addressed the situation last week, strongly defending Belichick and calling him “the greatest coach of all time”. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell echoed that sentiment Monday night, saying both Belichick and Kraft have made extraordinary contributions to the game and expressing confidence that each will eventually be inducted.
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel also weighed in, calling Kraft“more than deserving” while acknowledging that the timing is out of his control. Around the league, the reaction was less about surprise and more about process. Several analysts have pointed to the Hall’s evolving criteria as a growing factor in delayed inductions, especially for non-players.
By the numbers: the Kraft era in New England
The stakes are clear.Kraft purchased the Patriots in 1994, when the franchise had 225 all-time wins and little sustained success. Since then, New England has added 374 victories, appeared in 10 Super Bowls, and won six championships, tying the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most titles in NFL history.
“[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 hired Belichick in 2000, beginning an 18-year run that produced six Super Bowl wins and nine Super Bowl appearances. Beyond championships, Kraft has served on multiple NFL ownership committees and played a key role during the 2011 lockout, further strengthening his Hall of Fame résumé.
The wait continues for the faces of a dynasty
The outcome also landed in a symbolic season. New England reached Super Bowl LX, reminding the league of the standard that defined the franchise for two decades. Yet the two figures most closely associated with that era remain outside Canton, at least for now.
Looking ahead, Kraft will remain eligible under the same voting structure, and league officials, including Goodell, continue to signal that his induction is a matter of timing rather than merit. The process moves on, the debate continues, and the legacy waits.
“I would just say that’s unfortunate… In my experiences with Robert, he’s more than deserving. He’ll be in the Hall of Fame. I’m not in charge of deciding when that happens…
Reporting based on ESPN league-source coverage, official statements from Robert Kraft, Roger Goodell, and Mike Vrabel, with historical data from NFL and Pro Football Hall of Fame records. Contributions from The Associated Press were also referenced.
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