4 takeaways from ESPN’s story on Robert Kraft’s Hall of Fame bids

Robert Kraft has played a foundational role in both the Patriots’ ascension as a football power and an extended era of prosperity for the NFL.

After purchasing the Patriots in 1994, Kraft saved the team from a potential relocation, investing in a franchise that won six Super Bowls behind Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.

He also helped end the league’s 2011 lockout and played a key role in negotiating lucrative TV deals for the NFL and multiple ownership groups. 

So even with those multiple accomplishments, why hasn’t Kraft, 83, earned a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr. investigated Kraft’s failed pursuits of being enshrined in Canton. His story details an extensive campaign from Kraft’s supporters to get him his gold jacket, as well as the reported rationale for why he has not received much momentum over the years from Hall-of-Fame voters.

Here are four takeaways from Van Natta’s in-depth piece of Kraft’s quest for the Hall of Fame: 

Spygate continues to loom large for voters

While Kraft’s resume speaks for itself — especially when measured against other owners already enshrined in the Hall of Fame like Dallas’ Jerry Jones — several controversies tied to the Patriots over the years seemingly linger in the minds of voters when it comes to Kraft’s candidacy. 

In particular, “Spygate” apparently still stands as a point of consternation, even though the videotaping scandal from 2007 is usually viewed as more of an indictment of Belichick and the Patriots’ coaching staff than of team ownership.

Still, Van Natta reported that the lingering stain of the Spygate scandal has hurt Kraft’s HOF odds over the years, with some voters believing that Kraft knew far more about the videotaping than he initially let on. 

“Some voters believe he was part of the biggest cheating scandal in NFL history,” a veteran Hall of Fame voter 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.

The Patriots were ultimately fined $250,000 and forced to forfeit a first-round pick as a result of Spygate. Belichick was fined $500,000.  

During the Apple TV+ series “The Dynasty,” Kraft said he told Belichick he was “a schmuck” for the attempt to steal signs through videotaping. Kraft added that he battled with Goodell and the league office to ensure that Belichick was only fined, not suspended for his role in the controversy. 

Van Natta noted in the story that several voters honed in on the fact that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell ordered the Spygate tapes to be destroyed by NFL general counsel in September 2007.

For those voters, Goodell did not order a thorough investigation of the videotaping scandal — shortly after Kraft championed Goodell’s ascension as NFL commissioner in 2006. 

“It’s the elephant in the room,” one voter told Van Natta.

Other controversies reportedly held against Kraft

For voters who spoke to Van Natta, it’s not just Spygate that lingers over the Patriots and Kraft’s Hall-of-Fame campaign. 

“Part of the problem when it comes to assessing Kraft and the entire Patriots dynasty is factoring in several well-known controversies,” Van Natta wrote. “A half dozen voters said evolving truths around incidents such as Spygate, Deflategate and Orchids of Asia cloud the team’s greatness.”

Kraft was charged with two counts of soliciting prostitution in 2019 after visiting the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Florida, with both charges later dropped. 

“We probably need to put a little distance between the massage parlor and the Hall of Fame,” one voter told Van Natta. 

Even with those controversies, longtime football writer and Hall of Fame voter Peter King noted in Van Natta’s story that “there’s a pockmark on everyone in the Hall of Fame,” adding: “Has there ever been a player, a coach, an owner, a commissioner who has a perfect résumé? Who has never done anything wrong?”

“The Dynasty” book, Apple TV+ series reportedly hurt Kraft’s candidacy

“The Dynasty” — a bestselling book penned by Jeff Benedict in 2020 and the subsequent 10-part Apple TV+ documentary series bearing the same name — has also rankled voters, Van Natta reported.

The documentary series in particular drew criticism for its harsh critique of Belichick. Boston.com readers labeled it a “hit job” on Belichick and several former Patriots players shared that they felt “duped” by the narrative presented in the series. 

“Both projects depicted Kraft deftly managing the egos of two all-time greats, coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, to keep the hit-making band together as long as possible,” Van Natta wrote. “Some voters told ESPN they believe both projects were intended to juice Kraft’s Hall of Fame candidacy. A Patriots spokesperson adamantly denied the projects were part of any push to get Kraft into Canton. And last winter, Kraft said he had no influence on the docuseries and was “disappointed” with the film.”

Although Kraft said he did not hold influence over the docuseries, Van Natta wrote in his story — citing documents obtained by ESPN — that Kraft owns the film and television rights to “The Dynasty” book.

“That means the book by acclaimed author Jeff Benedict could be turned into a film only with Kraft’s permission. And according to emails, documents and sources, Kraft owns the docuseries, licensed it to Apple and sought editorial control,” Van Natta wrote.

Kraft reportedly viewed Jerry Jones’ HOF enshrinement as an “insult”

While Kraft has yet to get the call to Canton, Jerry Jones received his gold jacket in 2017. While Jones has long served as the influential — and outspoken — owner of the Cowboys, Dallas has not won a Super Bowl since 1995. 

Considering Kraft’s longer track record of success (six Super Bowls to Jones’ three in Dallas), Van Natta reported that Kraft was disappointed that his fellow owner was inducted nearly seven years ago. 

“Back in Foxborough, Kraft and his supporters reacted to Jones’ induction with anger and confusion,” Van Natta wrote. “They seethed that Hall voters didn’t seem to appreciate Kraft’s work to grow the league through media and labor deals, and the Patriots’ unparalleled dynasty.  Kraft saw the selection of his archrival as an insult, a verdict that Jones is more responsible for the NFL’s astonishing success. 

“’He hasn’t been to the NFC title game in two decades and he gets in?” Kraft told a confidant. “’How does that work?’”

In total, 16 owners have been inducted into the Hall of Fame, with just five enshrined since 2000: Dan Rooney of the Steelers, Ralph Wilson of the Bills, Eddie DeBartolo of the 49ers, Jones of the Cowboys, and Pat Bowlen of the Broncos.

Only Rooney has the same number of Super Bowl titles as Kraft.

New HoF rules could help Kraft’s odds

While Kraft has yet to earn a spot in Canton, his odds should increase moving forward when the Hall-of-Fame committee meets in early October following a distinction in voting candidacy. 

“In August, the Hall’s board of directors made a monumental change to the voting process by separating coaches and contributors for consideration,” Van Natta explained. “Mike Shanahan and Mike Holmgren, considered by voters to be the coaching favorites, will no longer be competing against Kraft and other nominated contributors.”