Patriots owner Robert Kraft has been named one of five contributor nominees for the 2027 Pro Football Hall of Fame class, announced Wednesday. The Contributor Subcommittee narrowed the field from 42 candidates to five and will meet again on Nov. 17 to select one nominee to advance to the full Selection Committee. The Selection Committee will announce the 2027 class shortly before the Super Bowl.
Kraft is joined by Ralph Hay, Virginia McCaskey, Doug Williams, and John Wooten. Kraft received the subcommittee's vote last year but was left out of the 2026 class. He has been eligible for years, with last year being the first time he advanced out of the subcommittee. Former Patriots coach Bill Belichick, in his first year on the ballot, also was not selected.
Kraft, 85, has owned the Patriots since 1994. Under his ownership, New England has won six Super Bowls and appeared in five more, including last season's loss to the Seahawks. Before Kraft, the Patriots had only reached one Super Bowl, which they lost. He has been a key member of several NFL committees and helped lead the creation of Gillette Stadium, opened in 2002.
In 2024, ESPN detailed Kraft's long struggle for induction, with voters citing Spygate, Deflategate, and dismissed charges from two visits to a Jupiter, Florida massage parlor as reasons for his exclusion. Regarding the other nominees: Hay owned the Canton Bulldogs from 1918-22 and was integral in creating the NFL. McCaskey owned the Bears from 1983-2025, daughter of founder George Halas. Williams was the first Black quarterback to win a Super Bowl, leading Washington to victory over Denver in 1988 with 340 passing yards and four touchdowns. Wooten played 10 seasons as an offensive lineman before moving into scouting and player personnel roles, and chaired the Fritz Pollard Alliance.
