By Cole SullivanShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe Pro Football Hall of Fame has faced significant backlash over the past week after it was revealed that longtime NFL head coach Bill Belichick was not voted into the Class of 2026 in his first year of eligibility, despite winning eight Super Bowls (six as head coach, two as defensive coordinator).
Now, on Tuesday, longtime Patriots owner Robert Kraft also fell short of receiving a Hall of Fame bid. During his tenure, Kraft has overseen six Super Bowls, 11 AFC Championships, and guided the team to the Super Bowl with three different head coaches and quarterbacks.
This was Kraft’s first time as a finalist after 14 previous attempts to enter the Hall. While his induction may still come in the future, Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel called the outcome “unfortunate” when addressing the news on Tuesday, just days before the Super Bowl.
“I would just say that that’s unfortunate,” Vrabel said. “In my experiences with Robert [Kraft], he’s more than deserving, and he’ll be in the Hall of Fame. I’m not in charge of deciding when that happens. I appreciate the relationship I’ve had with him and the success we’ve had as a player and now as a coach. He’s done everything needed to support us, and provided the support we needed as a staff and as a team. I’m glad he’s back here continuing to help us do things that will help the team win and ultimately allow him to be recognized.”
More news: Patriots’ Mike Vrabel Has Strong Reaction to Bill Belichick’s Hall of Fame Snub
...More news: Tom Brady Faces Backlash for Comments About Patriots‑Seahawks Super Bowl
There remains ongoing speculation that some of the scandals the Patriots endured during their historic dynasty — such as Spygate and Deflategate — may still be influencing voters when evaluating the Hall of Fame cases of both Belichick and Kraft.
Nonetheless, there isn’t currently an owner in the Hall of Fame whose resume matches Kraft’s when it comes to consistently putting a winning product on the field year after year.
More news: Stefon Diggs’ Honest Message About Bills QB Josh Allen Has NFL Fans Talking
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