Kraft and Belichick semifinalists for Hall of Fame Class of 2026

Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots, was named Thursday as one of nine semifinalists in the contributor category for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026, while former Patriots coach Bill Belichick was among nine semifinalists in the coach category, the Hall announced. A blue-ribbon committee reduced the contributors list from 21 nominees to nine; that committee will meet Nov. 11 to select a single contributor finalist. The coaches committee will name its finalist on Nov. 18. Finalists from the contributor and coach groups, along with 15 modern-era players and three seniors, will be presented to the full selection committee before the Super Bowl.

Kraft joins K.S. Bud Adams, Roone Arledge, Ralph Hay, Frank "Bucko" Kilroy, Art Rooney Jr., Clark Shaughnessy, Seymour Siwoff and Buddy Young as contributor semifinalists. The coach semifinalists include Bill Belichick, George Seifert, Mike Shanahan, Tom Coughlin, Mike Holmgren, Buddy Parker, Chuck Knox, Dan Reeves and Marty Schottenheimer. The Hall’s selection rules call for between four and eight new inductees each year; election requires securing the necessary threshold of votes from the full committee.