Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft were both announced as finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
This marks the first time Kraft, who has owned the New England Patriots since 1994, has been named a finalist. As for Belichick, he has been named a finalist in his first year of eligibility after he and New England parted ways following the 2023 season.
Kraft and Belichick were among five individuals who were announced as finalists, being joined by Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson, 49ers running back Roger Craig, and Steelers defensive end L.C. Greenwood.
Kraft was the only finalist in the contributor category, with the eight other semifinalists being K.S. “Bud” Adams, Roone Arledge, Ralph Hay, Frank “Bucko” Kilroy, Art Rooney Jr., Clark Shaughnessy, Seymour Siwoff, and Buddy Young. Similarly, Belichick was the only finalist in the coach category, getting the honor over Tom Coughlin, Mike Holmgren, Chuck Knox, Buddy Parker, Dan Reeves, Marty Schottenheimer, George Seifert, and Mike Shanahan.
Ultimately, only three of the five finalists will be eligible, and they must get at least 80% of the full Selection Committee votes.
NFL Insider Reveals Who Is More Likely To Get Into The Hall of Fame
While Belichick and Kraft both have clear arguments for why they deserve a spot, it seems that there is one who is more likely to be selected.
ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. reports that Belichick is “believed to be a favorite for induction.”
“While sources with knowledge of the voting process told ESPN that Kraft’s fate with the 50 Hall voters is far from certain, they said Belichick, 73, is believed to be a favorite for induction,” Van Natta writes. “His NFL coaching record of 333-178 (including playoffs) is second all time only to Don Shula’s 347 victories.”
Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft May Have To Share The Stage Again Despite Ongoing Tension
GettyBill Belichick and Robert Kraft were both named finalists on the 2026 Hall of Fame ballot.
Since Belichick and Kraft parted ways, the duo’s relationship has continued to go downhill.
After the release of Apple TV’s 10-part docuseries on the Patriots dynasty, sources close to the former New England head coach told ESPN that Belichick “was rankled by Kraft’s secretive role” in the show because it was viewed as “shortchanging the coach’s contribution.”
Then, when Belichick was interviewing for the Atlanta Falcons head coaching opening ahead of the 2024 season, ESPN also reported that Kraft told owner Arthur Blank that Belichick “could not be trusted.” And with that, Atlanta ultimately hired Raheem Morris as head coach rather than the eight-time Super Bowl champion.
Instead, Belichick made the transition to college football, becoming head coach at the University of North Carolina where he finished his first season with a 4-8 record. However, during that time there was a report that Belichick banned Patriots scouts from attending practices, and he all but confirmed it when speaking with reporters.
“It’s clear I’m not welcome at [the Patriots] facility,” he said. “So they’re not welcome at ours. It’s very simple.”
So, if the two become members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026, it will be quite the reunion in Canton.
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