New England Patriots
Kraft, eligible since 2013, was a first-time finalist this year but reportedly fell short of the 40 votes he needed.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft will not be enshrined as a member of the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame class, according to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Kraft fell short of the 80-percent vote requirement. The selection committee is comprised of 50 voters, so Kraft would have needed 40 to get in.
Both Kraft and Bill Belichick were part of a five-man ballot, along with former players L.C. Greenwood, Roger Craig, and Ken Anderson. Neither Kraft, nor Belichick, was reportedly selected out of the group.
Kraft brought Belichick to the Patriots via trade in 2000, and they helped lift the franchise to a rare level of dominance. The Patriots are tied with the Steelers for the most Super Bowl wins of all time (six), and have a chance to break that tie this Sunday during a rematch against the Seahawks.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters that while league is not involved in the voting process, he believes both Kraft and Belichick will get into the Hall of Fame eventually.
“They are spectacular,” Goodell said. “They have contributed so much to this game, and I believe they will be Hall of Famers.”
Kraft, 84, has been eligible for the Hall of Fame since he was nominated in 2013. This year was his first time making it past the semifinal round.
The Patriots have the most wins (374) in the NFL since Kraft bought the team in 1994. The franchise, which was founded in 1959, had 225 total wins before Kraft bought the team.
New England is one win shy of tying the Packers for the most playoff wins (37) of all time. A win in Super Bowl LX on Sunday would cement the tie with Green Bay.
Kraft has the most conference championships (11) of any owner in the Super Bowl era. The Patriots made the playoffs in 23 of his 32 seasons owning the team. They’ve won 20 division titles and six Super Bowls during that span.
Kraft was the finalist for the contributor category. Belichick was the finalist for the coach category. Greenwood, Craig, and Anderson are finalists for senior players.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 will be announced during the NFL honors event on Thursday night in San Francisco.
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