Robert Kraft denied Hall of Fame entry for 13th time

It’s unlucky number 13 for Robert Kraft as the New England Patriots owner has been snubbed by the Pro Football Hall of Fame yet again. 

Kraft, a six-time Super Bowl winning owner, has been considered by a Hall of Fame committee a grand total of 13 times, including this year, but has failed to make it further than that stage every time. 

This year, the 83-year-old was passed over by the contributor committee in favor of Ralph Hay, who was a co-founder of the National Football League and was the owner of the Canton Bulldogs from 1918 to 1922, according to ESPN. 

The nine-member committee passes along one name to the 50 voters of the Pro Football Hall of Fame for consideration. 80 percent of the voters must then approve the nominated name for induction.

Hay, along with one coaching candidate and three candidates from an earlier NFL era who haven’t yet been revealed, will be considered by the full selection committee for the Hall in January 2025.

Kraft was considered a favorite for the 2025 class and his omission has sparked fury among voters. 

The Super Bowl-winning owner has been considered by a Hall of Fame committee 13 times

‘It’s a huge surprise,’ said one source anonymously told ESPN. ‘And it’s very disappointing. Unless you are an NFL historian, you don’t know who Ralph Hay is.’ 

Despite having a Hall of Fame honor – the Ralph Hall Pioneer award – named after him, Hay has been passed over since the Hall’s establishment in 1963. This year marks the first time he has been a finalist. 

However, another angry insider insisted Hay was not more deserving of a spot over Kraft. 

‘Hay didn’t believe players should be paid. He sold the team after only four years. I don’t know how he is seen as more deserving than Bob Kraft,’ they told ESPN. 

Kraft has owned the Patriots since 1994. It’s a tenure that has overseen six Super Bowl titles and 10 conference titles, marking records for the most ever by an owner. 

However, scandals have marred the era with some believing controversies – including the infamous 2007 Spygate scandal – have blocked his entry into the Hall. 

‘Some voters believe he was part of the biggest cheating scandal in NFL history,’ One Hall of Fame voter told ESPN back in September. ‘That’s a very tough one to overcome.’ 

Kraft’s supporters have long waged a campaign to get his bronze bust into Canton, claiming there’s ‘no box that Robert Kraft doesn’t check.’