Former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick (L) and owner Robert Kraft united for six Super Bowl titles. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPIAlex ButlerWed, December 3, 2025 at 5:15 PM UTC·3 min readDec. 3 (UPI) -- Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick are back together - as finalists on the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame ballot in the coach/contributor/senior category.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame committee announced Wednesday that the New England Patriots' owner and former coach joined former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson, San Francisco 49ers running back Roger Craig and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end L.C. Greenwood as finalists for induction.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Hall of Fame's Blue Ribbon Committees selected Kraft as the only contributor finalist. Belichick is the only coach finalist. Anderson, Craig and Greenwood are senior finalists.
Kraft, who purchased the Patriots in 1994, hired Belichick in 2000. The duo teamed up to win six Super Bowl titles, including three in four years from 2001-02 to 2004-05.
Belichick, who also won two Super Bowls while serving as a defensive coordinator for the New York Giants, is the second-winningest (333) coach in NFL history, trailing only Don Shula (347). Belichick's 33 postseason victories and six Super Bowl titles are NFL records.
Bill Belichick coached the New England Patriots to their first Super Bowl title in 2002. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPIKraft's Patriots split with Belichick in 2024, ending a 24-year union that featured 19 postseason runs and nine Super Bowl appearances. The Patriots, led by quarterback Tom Brady, won at least 10 games 19 times during that run, including their 16-0 campaign in 2007-08.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBelichick, Kraft, Anderson, Craig and Greenwood will now compete against each other while seeking approval from at least 80% of the members of the selection committee to earn enshrinement.
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft bought the franchise in 1994. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPIEach member of the committee can vote for three of the five finalists. Only three finalists can be elected. If none of the five receives at least 80% approval, the finalist with the highest rate of support will be elected.
The Hall of Fame announced last week that 26 players made the semifinal round as modern-era candidates for the class of 2026. That list includes Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Philip Rivers, Frank Gore and Jason Witten, who made the semifinals in their first year of eligibility.
Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick (pictured) is the second-winningest coach in NFL history, trailing only Don Shula. File Photo by Matthew Healey/UPIThat group will be reduced to 15 finalists later this month. A minimum of three and maximum of five modern-era players will join the coach/contributor/senior candidates in the class of 2026.
The finalized class will be announced Feb. 5 during the NFL Honors in San Francisco and be enshrined Aug. 8 in Canton, Ohio.
Bill Belichick (R) teamed up with quarterback Tom Brady to win six titles with the New England Patriots after winning two as a coordinator with the New York Giants. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPIAdvertisementAdvertisement
