New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was moved to issue a statement about Bill Belichick’s exclusion from the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his first ballot.
Kraft did acknowledge perceptions of “personal differences” between himself and Belichick, but made it very clear that he felt Belichick should have been a first-ballot Hall of Famer. In the statement, Kraft perhaps sought to distance himself from any claims that he might have played any role in Belichick’s omission.
“Whatever perceptions may exist about any personal differences between Bill and me, I strongly believe Bill Belichick’s record and body of work speak for themselves,” Kraft said. “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.”
Robert Kraft on the reported omission of Bill Belichick for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) January 28, 2026
“Whatever perceptions may exist about any personal differences between Bill and me, I strongly believe Bill Belichick’s record and body of work speak for themselves. As head…
Kraft is just the latest name to speak in Belichick’s defense after the former New England Patriots coach was unexpectedly excluded from the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. The snub left many in the world of football absolutely baffled, considering Belichick is a six-time Super Bowl champion.
Belichick and Kraft have been at odds, especially since Belichick left New England following the 2023 season. Despite that, Kraft has never denied Belichick’s success. In this instance, it also helps that Kraft has his own negative experience with Hall of Fame voting, though that made some wonder if he was sabotaging Belichick to ensure the coach did not get in before he did.
Kraft himself could be inducted as part of the Class of 2026 if he gets 80 percent of the votes. It is not yet known if that happened, but Belichick’s snub ensures that the two will not go in together, at least this year.
