The New England Patriots went from a an afterthought to one of the most storied franchises in NFL history in the early 2000s. Legendary owner Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994, and while they didn’t begin winning Super Bowls immediately, the turnaround was swift and efficient.
In a bold move, New England decided to send a first-round pick to the New York Jets to acquire Bill Belichick, who took over as head coach. One of his very first moves was selecting future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady, a man who he would go on to win six championships with.
With Kraft and Belichick transforming the Patriots into a dynasty, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that they would both be first-ballot Hall of Famers. However, the football world was stunned last week when it was revealed that the iconic coach didn’t receive enough votes to be enshrined.
Perhaps people should have taken it as a bad sign for the future because it was revealed earlier this week that Kraft wasn’t inducted either. While there weren’t quite as much consternation about the owner’s snub, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell decided to issue a statement on the controversial decisions made against two of the most recognizable figures in sports history.
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Goodell didn’t have the feelings of disbelief and anger that many around the country shared — instead he sung Kraft and Belichick’s praises and expressed his belief that they will eventually make it into the Hall of Fame.
The statement feels a bit tone deaf because nobody believes that the duo will never get in, rather they are stunned that they won’t get the designation of making it on their first ballot. There are no perks or financial incentives for being in that elite class, but it serves as a clear distinction that those people were even a level above their legendary peers.
Although the Hall of Fame voters didn’t give Kraft and Belichick that prestigious honor, it seems like people will remember them in a much better light considering all the commotion that has been made about the snubs.