EDITORS NOTE: This is the first in a series of stories exploring Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s candidacy for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The entire project can be found here as stories publish.
By most counts, Robert Kraft should be a slam dunk for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Dallas owner Jerry Jones is in. So is Denver’s Pat Bowlen, another contemporary of Kraft who was nominated from the contributors category.
In all, 16 owners have bronzed busts in Canton, Ohio.
So why not Kraft, whose team has won more championships than any other owner in the league save for Dan Rooney of the Pittsburgh Steelers? Why is the Patriots CEO still waiting, with the enshrinement ceremony for the 2023 Hall class taking place Saturday?
Speaking with a half-dozen members of the special subcommittee that whittles down the list and nominates one contributor for the Hall every year, there are several factors at play when it comes to Kraft being on the outside looking in.
According to many of those subcommittee members - several speaking on the condition of anonymity - the Patriots owner is a polarizing figure to many of the voters.
While some expect Kraft to finally secure that gold jacket, perhaps as soon as a member of the 2024 class, others aren’t so sure when it’ll happen.
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“The gist of the whole thing is, he’s at the finish line. He just has to cross it,” one voter said of Kraft, who is once again in the final group of 12. “He will get rewarded. Is it this year? Maybe? Probably? I don’t know? But it’s going to happen.”
Until it does, questions remain.
For a little background, the league formed its “contributors” category in 2015. Prior to that, owners and officials had previously been vetted with the players and coaches. Coaches were then shuttled to the contributors category last year, now making it a “coach/contributor” group further adding to the candidate pool where only one is selected each year.
To wit, former Chargers coach Don Coryell, whose innovative offense changed the game, was the lone candidate to emerge from the subcommittee for 2023 and was voted in by the full selection committee. Last year, Art McNally was the finalist from the contributor group, and became the first NFL official to be enshrined. So the past two years, a coach and an official made the cut as contributors. Not an owner. And not Kraft.
“It’s an extremely competitive environment, that’s the bottom line,” said ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio, who will once again present Kraft’s case to the voters. ��That’s the No. 1 reason in my view, why Robert Kraft has had to wait the last couple of years.”
Along with those changes to the contributors pool, members of the subcommittee cited some well-chronicled sins committed by the Patriots that have kept its owner at the Hall’s doorstep.
In short, those stem from two cheating scandals involving the team along with Kraft’s own personal scandal. The Patriots owner was fined a significant amount of money and docked draft picks in the wakes of Spygate and Deflategate, where the Patriots were held culpable by the NFL for breaking the rules.
Fair or not, those scandals sit on Kraft’s record, and give voters pause.
As for Kraft’s personal transgression, the Patriots owner faced solicitation charges in Florida in January of 2019.
Kraft was accused of paying for sex acts at the Orchids of Asia day spa in Jupiter, Florida. He pleaded not guilty, but still felt compelled to issue a public apology.
“The situation that happened in Florida. I think he had a lot of momentum going prior to that, and when that happened, it just popped the balloon on whatever momentum he had,” another subcommittee said.
Florida prosecutors eventually dropped the charges a year and a half later, but the damage was already done to Kraft’s Hall candidacy. At least, that’s one of the prime takeaways after speaking with voters.
“I think people thought if he got in that year, it would be a stain, and people would make a mockery of the Hall, just from the standpoint it was a scandal,” the above voter added. “And I think it took at least a year for that to get settled. I know that was in the minds of a lot of people. But what’s difficult to predict is how much that lingers.”
It’s the proverbial elephant in the room. Voters aren’t necessarily supposed to weigh that given charges were dropped, and don’t openly mention it during the proceedings, but it still sits in the back of their minds. Couple that with Spygate and Deflategate, which are on the books, and that hurdle has been tough to overcome, no matter how worthy Kraft might be.
Hall voters have certainly considered other candidates who have been involved in controversy. Those with red flags didn’t necessarily get in right away, but were still destined to be Hall of Famers.
Former Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin and former 49er and Cowboy Charles Haley are two who come to mind.
As for owners, Eddie DeBartolo, who was barred from active control of the 49ers for a year after pleading guilty to a charge of failing to report a felony, was eventually elected to the Hall with the 2016 class. Backed by the five Super Bowls the 49ers dynasty won in 14 years, DeBartolo wound up being the first owner to gain the distinction after the specific contributor’s category was formed.
“I think it’s similar to that for Kraft,” said another voter. “I think he’s paying the price for (all of the scandals).”
To wit, both Dallas owner Jerry Jones (2017) and the late Broncos owner Pat Bowlen (2019) have gotten in ahead of Kraft, who is considered by many to be as deserving of the honor, if not more, than any of his contemporaries.
“With an owner, team success is one factor. But I want to see a complete resume. So I want to see team success, and contributions off the field, to the team, to the community, but especially to the league,” said one voter. “The thing with Jerry Jones . . . whether you like it or not, he made a difference. I don’t like a lot of what he’s done, but he’s changed the way of the NFL.”
Added another: “Jerry has really carried the game from a business and marketing standpoint, that’s not to say Kraft hasn’t had his imprint . . . it’s speculative to say whether he would have gotten in before Jerry, the same with Bowlen (if not for the various scandals). But I know what Kraft would say: ‘Count the rings.”'
The case for Bowlen centered around his extended reign of success and his heavy involvement with TV and broadcasting. He had a big role in negotiating Sunday Night Football and the lucrative contract with FOX.
“He brought in gazillions of dollars,” one voter said of the late Broncos owner.
Bottom line: Right or wrong, Kraft has been stalled on the Hall runway.
The years just keep passing, although reading the tea leaves, it’s possible 2024 will be the year. The 12-member subcommittee is due to meet August 15th to come up with their lone candidate from the dozen remaining to present to the full selection committee. From there, it will take a minimum of 80 percent of the voters to push that candidate through.
“They always tell us when we get to the meetings, just pick the best people, pick the person you think is most worthy,” said one voter. “Don’t worry about how long they’ve been in the running, how long they’ve been a finalist.”
Or, how old they might be, wanting someone to get in before they pass away. Kraft turned 82 in June. Another voter vehemently argued against pushing someone ahead for that reason, even though Bowlen might have been boosted by his failing health.
“From my vantage point, it’s hard to consider that,” the voter said of the age consideration. “I think one of the strongest things Kraft has going for him is Eddie DeBartolo being in but it’s really a disservice to say that.”
Kraft certainly has merit. Putting aside the negative factors mentioned above, he has plenty of plusses in his corner.
He kept the Patriots in New England and the Boston area, essentially keeping a major market in play for the NFL. At one point, it seemed like the Patriots were headed to St. Louis under then-owner James Orthwein, but Kraft stepped in and bought the team in 1994.
Aside from saving the day for the local fans, who have benefitted greatly by having the team remain, losing Boston would have forced the league to restructure the divisions while impacting so many other things.
Moreover, Kraft was a key player in resolving the 2011 lockout. Who can forget the indelible image of Kraft and Jeff Saturday, with the former Colts offensive lineman hugging the Patriots owner, and saying: “Without him, this deal does not get done. He is a man who helped us save football.”
And, like Bowlen, Kraft has also been instrumental in landing TV deals worth billions of dollars.
“I have been in that room when owners discuss issues, and I can assure you that Kraft has league-wide leadership,” former Colts GM and subcommittee voter Bill Polian told The Athletic in a 2022 story. “He is the man, which is why he was able to almost single-handedly drive a solution to the labor problem.”
In the piece, Polian placed Kraft alongside other Hall members and giants of the game, namely George Halas, Art Rooney Sr., Tim Mara, Dan Rooney and Wellington Mara.
“Does Kraft belong in that company? Unequivocally, without a doubt,” Polian said.
Of course, there’s also the success of the team. While winning isn’t the top criteria, it’s certainly a huge consideration toward Hall induction. Between the ten Super Bowl appearances under his ownership, six Super Bowl titles, 10 AFC Conference titles, 19 division titles, and 33 playoff wins, he’s the definition of a gold jacket contributor.
“Kraft has not only been winning with his franchise, but he’s been winning in league matters tremendously,” said another voter. “I think that’s what you’re talking about for a contributor as an owner, that carries a lot of weight.”
ESPN’s Paolantonio is among those who can’t see how Kraft doesn’t get in at some point. He’ll certainly be pushing that narrative when the subcommittee meets in a few weeks.
“Robert Kraft should be in the Hall of Fame, and Robert Kraft will get into the Hall of Fame. He will,” Paolantonio said matter-of-factly. “It’s just a question of when because it’s a very competitive environment.”
So for now, Kraft remains on the outside looking in.
Looking at the final 12, who might spoil the party this time around?
It’s hard to say. Kraft has finished second to the eventual contributor nominee in each of the last two years. So this might very well be his time.
Or, he’ll hit the trifecta for being runner up.
Mike Holmgren and Mike Shanahan are two coaches who are still in consideration for being the 2024 contributor finalist. Tom Coughlin is also in the pool for the first time this year, and is in the final group with Kraft. His Giants prevented the Patriots from capturing two more Super Bowls. Any of the above could get the nod, and leave Kraft a bridesmaid once again.
“What Patriot fans should know is that he’s been so close recently. He’s going to get in,” another voter insisted with respect to Kraft. “It’s just a question of when.”
The clock’s ticking.
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