"Interestingly enough, the Hall of Fame's new voting requirements in 2025 inadvertently helped pit Kraft against Belichick. Kraft was one of five finalists among contributors, coaches and senior players who last appeared in a game in 2000 or earlier. Kraft was the contributor finalist and Belichick was the coach, with Roger Craig, Ken Anderson and L.C. Greenwood the players. The 50 voters each pick three of the five finalists, and between one to three make it if they get at least 40 votes. If no candidate gets 40 votes, the top vote getter will be elected. A new rule also made coaches eligible one year after retiring instead of five."
"Kraft said in a statement last week that Belichick "is the greatest coach of all time and he unequivocally deserves to be a unanimous first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer." Kraft's exclusion should end the speculation that voters' advocacy for Kraft was what kept Belichick out. It's also possible, in the opinion of some league sources, that the voting process contributing to cancelling out support that any particular candidate might have gotten."
Robert Kraft, a first-time finalist, did not receive enough votes from the 50-person selection committee for inclusion in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. The Hall's 2025 voting changes placed Kraft among five older-era finalists alongside Bill Belichick and three former players, with voters each allowed to pick three names. Candidates needed at least 40 votes for induction or the top vote getter if none reached 40. Belichick also fell short of 40 votes. Kraft publicly declared Belichick the greatest coach and deserved unanimous induction. Some sources say voting mechanics may have split support among candidates.
Read at ESPN.com
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