NFL Rumors: Patriots' 'Spygate' Scandal Has Damaged Robert Kraft's HOF Candidacy

Several Pro Football Hall of Fame voters say that the New England Patriots' 2007 "Spygate" scandal could damage longtime owner's Robert Kraft induction bid, ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr. reported.

"Some voters believe he was part of the biggest cheating scandal in NFL history," one anonymous Hall of Fame voter described as a "veteran" told Van Natta. "That's a very tough one to overcome."

"Kraft has distanced himself from Spygate, but it did come up— it has to be considered," another voter told Van Natta, while a third called the scandal "the elephant in the room."

According to Van Natta, a "small group" of voters are concerned about the potential level of Kraft's involvement in the scandal, which involved the Patriots taping opposing coaches' signals and took place during Roger Goodell's second year as NFL commissioner.

"Several voters also pointed out that Goodell ordered the Spygate tapes destroyed by the NFL general counsel in a Gillette Stadium conference room in September 2007. Goodell, whom Kraft had championed becoming commissioner in 2006, did not order a thorough investigation," Van Natta wrote.

Kraft, 83, has led the Patriots organization through six Super Bowl wins. He is in his 31st season as team owner.

His purchase of the Patriots for $172 million in 1994 has been credited with helping keep the team in Boston.

Kraft has also reportedly played a key role in negotiating the collective bargaining agreement that ended the 2011 NFL lockout, and has chaired the NFL's media committee amid the league's acquisition of record broadcast deals.

Van Natta described Kraft's bid to enter the Hall of Fame as a "relentless" campaign which some voters believed involved the owner greenlighting multiple media projects centered around the Patriots.

These include Jeff Benedict's 2020 book "The Dynasty," later made into the 2024 miniseries of the same name on Apple TV+. Patriots VP of communications Stacey Jones sent copies of the book to multiple Hall of Fame voters, per Van Natta.

Jones said in a statement to Van Natta that the claim the book and miniseries were part of Kraft's campaign for a Hall of Fame induction was "utterly ridiculous."

Kraft's previous path to the Hall of Fame involved him competing with any coach eligible for induction that year.

The Hall previously only allowed one annual nominee from the coach/contributor category to be selected for induction. Kraft was named a finalist for the classes of 2023 and 2024, but that spot went to former head coaches Don Coryell and Buddy Parker, respectively.

That changed in August when the Hall of Fame announced they had split the coach and contributor sections into different categories.

When voters consider nominees for the 2024 class, Kraft will only compete with other non-player or coaches when his name comes up in front of the contributors committee. Two sources told Van Natta "a majority" of this committee supports the Patriots owner's bid for a spot in the Hall.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones became the 15th owner in the Hall of Fame following his 2017 induction. Kraft could be on his path to becoming the 16th when the 2025 Hall of Fame election cycle begins this fall.