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New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s relationship with Bill Belichick may have soured toward the end of the coach’s 23 years, but the longtime owner stands with the masses who feel he should be a first-round Hall of Famer.
Shock is an understatement for how the football world reacted to reports that Belichick did not get the votes necessary to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his first try.
Kraft was among them and said Belichick “unequivocally” should head to Canton.
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Former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick watches as owner Robert Kraft addresses the media at Gillette Stadium about Belichick’s departure. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
“Whatever perceptions there may be about the personal differences between Bill and me, I firmly believe that Bill Belichick’s record and work speak for themselves,” Kraft said in a statement.
“As head coach of the New England Patriots for more than two decades, he set the standard for on-field excellence, coaching and sustained success in the National Football League’s free agency and salary cap era. He is the greatest coach of all time and unequivocally deserves to be a unanimous first-ballot member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”
Prominent football figures, including Kraft and Belichick’s crown jewel, quarterback Tom Brady, had something to say about the coach with the second-most wins of all time and six Super Bowl rings that went unchosen.
TOM BRADY PERFECTED WHY BILL BELICHICK DIDN’T MAKE THE HALL OF FAME ON THE FIRST BALLOT
“I don’t understand it,” Brady said on Seattle Sports 710-AM. “If he’s not a first-ballot Hall of Famer, there’s really no coach who should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, which is completely ridiculous because people deserve it.”
Kansas City Chiefs great Patrick Mahomes, who faced Belichick’s Patriots in his career, added that it was “crazy” to see the news.
“I don’t even understand how this could be possible,” Mahomes on
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft smiles before the 2025 NFL game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, on October 19. (Kara Durrette/Getty Images)
ESPN reported that Belichick, who received the news last Friday that he didn’t make the cut, asked an associate, “Six Super Bowls isn’t enough,” talking about the championships won in New England.
“What’s a boy to do?” he supposedly added.
ESPN added that Belichick, who also won two Super Bowls during his time as the New York Giants’ defensive coordinator, was “bewildered” and “disappointed” that he did not receive at least 80% of the votes from Hall committee members.
“Politics kept him out. He doesn’t believe this is a reflection of his achievements,” a source told the outlet.
Belichick owns the second-most wins by a head coach in NFL history, with a record of 333-178, including playoffs. He is second only to the great Don Shula, the Hall of Famer who has 347 wins.
It’s Belichick’s record leading a dynasty in New England that led many to believe there was no way he would make it past the first ballot.
ESPN reported that the infamous Spygate and Deflategate scandals involving the Patriots during Belichick’s time in charge came up during deliberations over whether or not to vote for him in Canton.
Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick addressed the media at Gillette Stadium about his departure. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Kraft is also a Hall of Fame finalist as a contributor and is considered a strong candidate for immortality in Canton. However, some speculate that if Belichick is out, Kraft won’t make it either?
The relationship between owner and head coach soured toward the end of what was a dynasty-filled tenure with Belichick at the helm. The handling of Brady’s departure, where he ultimately chose the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and won a Super Bowl in his first season outside of Foxborough, as well as public statements about taking credit for the success, generated big headlines about Belichick’s departure ahead of the 2024 season.
