The New England Patriots are back in the upper tier of the NFL as they sit one win away from a seventh Super Bowl win, but they won’t be well represented in Canton this year.
After legendary coach Bill Belichick was snubbed from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, owner Robert Kraft fell short as well, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Kraft was also in his first year of eligibility and was one of five finalists among contributors and senior players, along with Belichick. At least one and as many as three candidates can be elected from that group.
Here’s what you need to know about Kraft’s exclusion from the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2026.
Why Robert Kraft didn’t get into Hall of Fame
While the vote totals are not publicly revealed, Kraft failed to garner at least 40 votes from the 50-person committee that weighs the candidacy of contributors and senior players.
Voters must choose three of five finalists, and anywhere from one to three senior or contributor finalists are selected for the Hall of Fame. Anyone who receives at least 40 votes is elected; if no one receives 40 votes, the highest vote-getter is elected. The full results are not public, but Kraft failed to crack the 40-vote threshold.
With Kraft and Belichick both falling short, the possibility remains that both could go into the Hall of Fame together in 2027, though they could work against each other again, given that voters have limited space on their ballots. Tom Brady, the other key cog in New England’s dynasty, is eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2028.
With Kraft and Belichick out of the running, at least one of Roger Craig, Ken Anderson and L.C. Greenwood will be part of the class of 2026.
NFL owners in Hall of Fame
15 owners are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Here’s the full list:
| Owner | Team | Year inducted |
| Tim Mara | Giants | 1963 |
| Bert Bell | Eagles | 1963 |
| George Preston Marshall | Commanders | 1963 |
| Art Rooney | Steelers | 1964 |
| Charles Bidwill | Cardinals | 1967 |
| Dan Reeves | Rams | 1967 |
| Lamar Hunt | Chiefs | 1972 |
| Tex Schramm | Cowboys | 1991 |
| Al Davis | Raiders | 1992 |
| Wellington Mara | Giants | 1997 |
| Dan Rooney | Steelers | 2000 |
| Ralph Wilson | Bills | 2009 |
| Eddie DeBartolo Jr. | 49ers | 2016 |
| Jerry Jones | Cowboys | 2017 |
| Pat Bowlen | Broncos | 2019 |
Only five owners have been inducted into the Hall of Fame since the turn of the century, but Kraft has a strong case to say his credentials outweigh those of the other owners elected. With six Super Bowl wins during his three-plus decades as an owner and now an appearance without Brady or Belichick, Kraft oversaw the kind of dynasty that history indicates will get him to Canton at some point.
Who are the Pro Football Hall of Fame voters?
The Hall of Fame class of 2026 is decided by a selection committee of 50 voters. While 3-5 new Hall of Famers are chosen from a set of 15 modern-era finalists each year, Kraft and Belichick were both part of a separate group of five finalists made up of contributors and senior players, or players who weren’t inducted during their time on the modern-era ballot.
In Kraft’s case, each of the 50 voters chooses three finalists out of the five candidates. Any senior player or contributor who receives at least 40 votes is elected. If every candidate fails to reach 40 votes, the highest vote-getter is elected.
The full list of Pro Football Hall of Fame voters can be found here.
How old is Robert Kraft?
Kraft is 84 years old. He is set to turn 85 in June.
Kraft is still heavily involved with the Patriots in his mid-80s, and he was visible when New England won an AFC championship over the Denver Broncos.
How did Robert Kraft make his money?
Kraft started out in the paper industry, becoming the owner of Rand-Whitney Group in 1968 and founding International Forest Products to trade products around the world in 1972.
Kraft quickly turned his paper and packaging businesses into “one of the largest exporters in North America,” according to CNN, and he founded The Kraft Group to organize his assets and eventually purchase Gillette Stadium.
Kraft paid $172 million to buy the Patriots in 1994, but the franchise is now worth an estimated $9 billion, according to Forbes.
