Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft were reunited, sort of, on Wednesday, when the co-architects of the New England Patriots’ dynasty were both named finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2026.
Belichick, 73, who guided the Patriots to six Super Bowl championships, is the finalist in the coaching category in his first year of eligibility.
Kraft, 84, who has owned the Patriots since 1994, is the lone finalist in the contributor category. It is his first time to make it this far in the voting process.
There are also three finalists in the seniors category: quarterback Ken Anderson, running back Roger Craig and defensive end L.C. Greenwood.
Two different nine-member committees selected Belichick and Kraft for consideration by Hall of Fame voters next month. They need to receive 80% of the vote from the full selection committee to be enshrined next summer in Canton, Ohio.
Side-by-side inductions would undoubtedly make for good theater, as Kraft and Belichick have had a falling out since the end of their glory days with Tom Brady under center. They officially parted ways in January 2024 after Belichick set a franchise record with 266 wins over 24 seasons.
According to ESPN sources, Belichick is believed to be a favorite for induction while Kraft’s fate is more uncertain.
All five finalists named Wednesday will be competing directly against each other, as committee members can only vote for three of the five finalists. A maximum of three can be elected. If none receives 80% approval, the individual with the most support will join the Class of 2026.
Belichick, who also won two Super Bowl rings as defensive coordinator for the New York Giants, has an overall record as an NFL head coach of 333-178 — second only to Don Shula’s 347 career victories. Belichick just completed his first season as the head coach at North Carolina with a 4-8 record.
Kraft’s Patriots have been to 10 Super Bowls. The team he paid $172 million for in 1994 is now worth an estimated $9.25 billion.
Anderson, 76, played 16 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals (1971-86) and was the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 1981. The four-time Pro Bowler led the team to Super Bowl XVI.
Craig, 65, played his first eight seasons with the San Francisco 49ers (1983-90), earning three Super Bowl rings. In 1985, he became the first player with 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving in the same season.
Greenwood, who died in 2013 at age 67, won four Super Bowls as part of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ “Steel Curtain” defense and earned six Pro Bowl selections in the 1970s.
There are still 26 players under consideration in the modern era category for the Class of 2026, which will be announced on Feb. 8.
–Field Level Media
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