Sources: Kraft not selected for HOF Class of 2026

What’s Happening

So get this: Patriots owner Robert Kraft, like his former head coach Bill Belichick, was not selected for entry into this year’s Pro Football Hall of Fame class, sources told ESPN.

Sources: Robert Kraft not voted for Hall of Fame Class of ‘26 play Dan Graziano sounds off on Robert Kraft not making the HOF (0:57) Dan Graziano says the voting system is “stupid and insanely outdated” after Robert Kraft doesn’t receive enough votes to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (0:57) Adam Schefter Feb 3, 2026, 07:55 AM ET Multiple Authors Email Print Open Extended Reactions New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, like his former head coach Bill Belichick, was not selected for entry into this year’s Pro Football Hall of Fame class, multiple league sources told ESPN. (plot twist fr)

Kraft, a first-time Hall of Fame finalist this year, did not receive enough votes from the 50-person selection committee to be included in the Class of 2026, which will be just dropped Thursday night at the NFL Honors in San Francisco.

The Details

Interestingly enough, the Hall of Fame’s new voting requirements in 2025 helped pit Kraft against Belichick. Kraft was one of five finalists among contributors, coaches and senior players who last appeared in a game in 2000 or earlier.

Kraft was the contributor finalist and Belichick was the coach, with Roger Craig, Ken Anderson and L. The 50 voters each pick three of the five finalists, and between one to three make it if they get at least 40 votes.

Why This Matters

If no candidate gets 40 votes, the top vote-getter will be elected. A new rule also made coaches eligible one year after retiring instead of five. Between one and three of those finalists will be inducted into the Hall along with between three and five modern era players from a group of 15 finalists.

This could change the dynamics of the sport going forward.

The Bottom Line

ESPN reported last week that Belichick fell short of the 40 votes needed for induction this year, setting off a torrent of criticism over the longtime coach’s exclusion and the Hall of Fame’s voting process. Kraft dropped in a statement last week that Belichick “is the greatest coach of all time and he unequivocally deserves to be a unanimous first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer.

What do you think about all this?