Robert Kraft is one of the most successful NFL owners of all time. Since purchasing the New England Patriots in 1994, the franchise has won a whopping six Super Bowls.
Now, Kraft’s legacy could be enhanced with a spot in the Hall of Fame. He has been named a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 in the coach/contributor category.
As a franchise, the Patriots boast a total of 11 Hall of Famers, including coach Bill Parcells, who is the only Patriot to make it in the coach/contributor category.
Hall of Fame voting process
There are a total of 12 semifinalists in the coach/contributor category. Other semifinalists include Tom Coughlin, Marty Shottenheimer, Mike Shanahan and Frank “Bucko” Kilroy, who was an executive for the Patriots from 1971-2007.
Committee members for the coach/contributor category will meet on Aug. 15 to select one coach or contributor for final consideration for the Class of 2024.
This year’s class will be announced in February during Super Bowl LVIII weekend. The Class of 2024 will be enshrined to the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, next summer.
This is not Kraft’s first time as a Hall of Fame semifinalist. He was a semifinalist last year, before former Cardinals and Chargers head coach Don Coryell was chosen in the coach/contributor category.
Building a Patriots dynasty
The New England Patriots have been to the Super Bowl 11 times as a franchise, with 10 of those appearances coming on Kraft’s watch. They have won six Super Bowls (2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, 2018), all with Kraft as owner.
Kraft purchased the team back in 1994 for $175 million. Now in 2023, the franchise is worth more than $5 billion.
According to Forbes, Kraft has a massive net worth of $10.6 billion as of 2022. He is the 59th richest person in the US.
Kraft has poured a lot of money into the Patriots franchise, including the original funding and numerous Gillette Stadium renovation projects.
In addition to being the owner of the Patriots, Kraft is also the CEO of the Kraft Group. The organization has a number of business endeavors ranging from packing to equity management.
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Kraft’s previous hardware
Beyond Super Bowl titles, Kraft has also received a number of personal awards.
In 2006, Kraft was awarded the NCAA’s highest honor when he received the Theodore Roosevelt Award. This award is presented annually to “a distinguished citizen of national reputation and outstanding accomplishments.”
He was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2011. The next year in 2012, he won the George Halas Award, which is given by the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) to an NFL player, coach or staff member who “overcomes the most adversity to succeed.”
In 2013, he was awarded the Carnegie Hall Medal of Excellence. He has also received several honors from colleges and universities around the country.
At this point, a trip to the Hall of Fame would be the icing on the cake for Kraft.
