Hall has no doubts about Robert Kraft, but the NFL’s owner adulation wins the debate. “The Athletic”

Robert Kraft: A No-Doubter for the Hall, But a Win for NFL’s Owner Glorification

In the world of professional sports, the conversation surrounding Hall of Fame induction is almost always dominated by the athletes themselves. The legacies of iconic players, coaches, and even broadcasters are often the subject of impassioned debates, dissecting careers and defining moments. However, there are some individuals whose contributions to the sport transcend the typical athlete-coach-player framework: the team owners.

Robert Kraft, the long-time owner of the New England Patriots, is one such individual whose place in the NFL’s history is unmistakable. Kraft’s induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame is widely viewed as a foregone conclusion—his success on the field is undeniable, and his impact on the league has been transformative. Yet, Kraft’s potential enshrinement also raises larger questions about the growing trend of celebrating team owners and their evolving role in the glorification of the NFL.

Kraft’s career as the owner of the Patriots has been marked by extraordinary success—six Super Bowl titles, a perennial contender for more than two decades, and a legacy of unmatched consistency. But as discussions about Kraft’s eventual Hall of Fame induction heat up, it is essential to consider the broader narrative: Should owners be enshrined alongside the athletes and coaches who define the sport, or are they benefiting from a growing trend of owner glorification that threatens to overshadow the true contributors to the game?

In this piece, we’ll explore why Robert Kraft’s Hall of Fame candidacy seems like a foregone conclusion, the broader trend of owner glorification in professional sports, and whether this shift in focus is warranted—or if it detracts from the game’s true essence.

Robert Kraft’s Unquestionable Legacy

There is little debate about Robert Kraft’s impact on the NFL, and even less debate about his eventual enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Kraft’s tenure as the owner of the New England Patriots has been one of the most successful in sports history. When Kraft purchased the team in 1994 for a then-record $172 million, the Patriots were far from the dynasty they would become. The franchise had only won two championships in its entire history (one of which came in 1963 when the team was known as the Boston Patriots) and was stuck in mediocrity.

Kraft’s leadership and vision transformed the Patriots into one of the most dominant franchises in all of sports. Under his ownership, the Patriots have won six Super Bowls (tied for the most in NFL history), made 11 AFC Championship Games, and appeared in 14 playoffs. The Patriots dynasty is a model of consistency, built around one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game, Tom Brady, and an exceptional head coach, Bill Belichick.

Kraft has also been a key figure in the NFL’s business operations, using his wealth and influence to help expand the league’s revenue streams, secure television contracts, and push for stadium upgrades. He is widely credited for his role in negotiating the NFL’s collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), ensuring that the league remains financially strong and competitive. His ownership of Gillette Stadium, one of the most modern and profitable sports venues in the country, further solidified his place in the NFL’s elite ownership circle.

Kraft’s impact goes beyond on-field success. He has served as a voice of reason and diplomacy in a league often filled with controversy and power struggles. He has been an advocate for social justice issues and was instrumental in pushing for better player safety standards. Kraft’s role in the league’s evolution, both financially and socially, cannot be overstated. His stewardship of the Patriots, particularly in the Brady-Belichick era, will forever be remembered as one of the most successful in professional sports history.

But does this success warrant a Hall of Fame induction?

Owner Glorification in Professional Sports

While Robert Kraft is a clear example of an owner who has transcended the normal bounds of ownership to become a league legend, there is a growing trend of celebrating owners in ways that could blur the lines between contributors and those who simply profit from the game.

Historically, owners have been in the background of sports narratives, often seen as necessary evils in the eyes of players and fans. The athletes and coaches were the ones who made the plays, took the hits, and produced the stories. Owners, in many ways, were just the businessmen writing the checks. But in recent years, the role of the owner has changed, with figures like Kraft, Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys, and Stephen Ross of the Miami Dolphins becoming household names in their own right.

In some ways, this evolution has been driven by the increasing commercialization of professional sports, where owners wield enormous power both on and off the field. As the NFL has evolved into the richest and most popular sports league in the world, the visibility and importance of owners have skyrocketed. Owners like Kraft have become more involved in the marketing, branding, and financial growth of the NFL, leading to a situation where they are no longer just silent partners behind the scenes.

The debate over owner glorification is particularly relevant in football, where the divide between players and owners has often been stark. Fans are drawn to the drama of the game, the intensity of the action, and the personalities of the players. Owners, with their luxury suites and boardroom deals, can seem like distant figures, removed from the reality of the game. However, as media coverage of the NFL has expanded, and as owners like Kraft have assumed larger public profiles, there is a growing tendency to view them as integral parts of the football narrative.

This is particularly evident when it comes to the Hall of Fame. The NFL Hall of Fame, traditionally reserved for players, coaches, and broadcasters, has increasingly included owners in recent years. Kraft’s impending induction will likely be viewed as part of this trend. While there is no doubt about the massive influence owners have on their franchises, the question remains whether the NFL Hall of Fame is becoming too inclusive, letting owners in as a way to further elevate their already-privileged status in the sport.

Robert Kraft and the Legacy of Owner Induction

Kraft’s candidacy for the Hall of Fame is not a new concept; it has been discussed for years, especially as the Patriots’ dynasty continued to unfold. The success of the Patriots during Kraft’s tenure has been so profound that it’s difficult to imagine a Hall of Fame without him. Kraft’s induction would be an acknowledgment not just of the championships won under his ownership, but also of the way he reshaped the NFL’s business landscape.

However, the discussion around Kraft’s induction also brings into focus the broader trend of owner glorification. To some, Kraft’s induction feels like an inevitability based on his success and financial acumen, but others question whether this shift towards glorifying owners takes away from the essence of the Hall of Fame. Should the Hall of Fame include individuals who essentially profit off the talents of others, or should it remain focused on the athletes and coaches who actually shape the game?

Kraft, for all his success, is not the only example of owner glorification in the NFL. Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, is perhaps the most prominent example of an NFL owner whose name is as synonymous with the sport as his team’s. Jones’ involvement in the construction of AT&T Stadium, his financial influence in the league, and his leadership in collective bargaining talks have all shaped the NFL in significant ways. Yet, despite his immense influence, some argue that the Hall of Fame should remain reserved for those whose contributions to the game were more hands-on, specifically those whose work directly impacted the field of play.

This trend is not unique to the NFL. In Major League Baseball, owners like George Steinbrenner of the New York Yankees have been inducted, sparking similar debates. While Steinbrenner’s ownership led to multiple World Series titles, many believed his induction into the Hall of Fame was based more on his wealth and power than any tangible contribution to the sport itself.

While it’s difficult to argue that Kraft doesn’t deserve recognition for his transformative leadership, the debate about owner glorification raises an important question: Is the Pro Football Hall of Fame becoming a place to honor power and wealth as much as actual contributions to the sport?

Should Owners Be Inducted into the Hall of Fame?

Ultimately, whether or not Robert Kraft deserves to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame is subjective. By any measure, his success as an NFL owner is unparalleled. He has overseen a period of sustained excellence in New England, reshaping the Patriots into a dynasty that set the standard for the NFL. His involvement in league operations, stadium development, and negotiations has undoubtedly played a pivotal role in the NFL’s financial and cultural dominance.

However, the trend of owner glorification cannot be ignored. The very idea of inducting owners into the Hall of Fame raises uncomfortable questions about the nature of Hall of Fame membership. Is it truly a place to honor those whose actions are directly responsible for the outcomes on the field, or is it now a place for the wealthy and influential to be immortalized alongside the players and coaches who defined the sport?