Kraft Advances; Belichick and Patriots Also Advance

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is one of 21 contributors who advanced from an initial 32 nominees to the next stage of Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 balloting. The blue-ribbon committee will trim the field to nine semifinalists and then to a single finalist before full-committee voting early next year, when between four and eight new members are expected to be elected. The contributors list includes historical owners such as NFL founder Ralph Hay, Bud Adams, Virginia McCaskey, Clint Murchison and Art Rooney Jr., and executives and media figures like Amy Trask, Roone Arledge, Howard Cosell and John Facenda. Kraft’s résumé — six Super Bowls, 10 AFC titles, influence on league broadcast deals, saving the franchise and financing Gillette Stadium — underpins his roughly 14th year of consideration, though he has not yet been named a finalist. Meanwhile, longtime Patriots coach Bill Belichick advanced in the coaches category, and eight former Patriots moved from 128 nominees to a 52-player semifinal list, including Adam Vinatieri, Vince Wilfork, Logan Mankins, Rodney Harrison and Asante Samuel.