Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft Among Finalists Revealed for Pro Football HOF 2026 Class

Despite their icy relationship, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and former head coach Bill Belichick are tied together once again.

On Wednesday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced that Belichick and Kraft are among the finalists for induction as part of the Class of 2026 in the coach and contributor categories, respectively. They are joined by senior finalists Ken Anderson, Roger Craig and L.C. Greenwood.

The finalists will need 80 percent of the vote from the selection committee to be elected into the Hall of Fame. Members of the selection committee are permitted to vote for three of the five finalists. If none of the finalists reach the 80 percent threshold, the individual who received the most support will be the only person elected.

Belichick and Kraft enjoyed unprecedented success together as they built the Patriots into one of the greatest dynasties the NFL has ever seen. They won six Super Bowl titles together before Belichick departed the team following the 2023 season. He's currently in his first year coaching college football at UNC.

ESPN's Seth Wickersham and Wright Thompson detailed the breakdown of Belichick and Kraft's relationship in a 2024 feature, revealing that things worsened between them toward the end of Belichick's tenure with the team. The two of them even went back and forth over the summer over Kraft's comments that it was "a risk" to hire Belichick in 2000.

Now, Belichick and Kraft could be sharing the podium at the 2026 Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The full class will be unveiled during Super Bowl LX week in San Francisco.