Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft were named finalists by the blue-ribbon committee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Wednesday.
Belichick is the only finalist in the coaching category, and Kraft is the lone finalist in the contributor category. Former Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson, ex-49ers running back Roger Craig and former Steelers defensive end L.C. Greenwood were also named finalists by the blue-ribbon committee in the senior category.
For enshrinement, Belichick and Kraft must receive approval from at least 80% of the members of the hall of fame selection committee, which will meet during Super Bowl LX week in San Francisco. Each member of the selection committee can only vote for three of the five blue-ribbon committee finalists.
There are also 26 semifinalists among modern era players, including former Patriots safety Rodney Harrison, defensive tackle Vince Wilfork and kicker Adam Vinatieri. That group will be reduced to 15 players.
The rest of the semifinalists are quarterbacks Drew Brees, Eli Manning and Philip Rivers; running backs Frank Gore and Fred Taylor; wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald, Torry Holt, Steve Smith Sr., Hines Ward and Reggie Wayne; tight end Jason Witten; offensive linemen Willie Anderson, Lomas Brown, Jahri Evans, Richmond Webb, Steve Wisniewski and Marshal Yanda; defensive backs Earl Thomas and Darren Woodson; linebackers Luke Kuechly and Terrell Suggs (also DE); defensive linemen Robert Mathis (also LB) and Kevin Williams.
Taylor, Holt and Wayne also had stints with the Patriots.
Belichick won six Super Bowls as head coach of the Patriots, plus two as an assistant coach with the Giants. Now head coach of the University of North Carolina, Belichick finished his NFL head coaching career with a 333-178 regular-season record and a 31-13 playoff record. He’s second behind Don Shula in regular-season wins.
He released the following statement on his nomination: “To be in this position is extremely humbling. I am honored to be named the Coaching Finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Thank you to the Selection Committee and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I am thankful for the organizations and thousands of players and coaches that I worked with for my 49 years in the NFL. This is a cherishable reflection of all of my teammates throughout my NFL career.
“Congratulations to the other finalists Roger Craig, Kenny Anderson, L.C. Greenwood, and of course, Robert Kraft.
“I hope to see all of the deserving Patriots selected this year.”
Kraft bought the Patriots in 1994 and has seen his team win six Super Bowls and 10 AFC championships. He’s also served on 17 owners committees. He’s chaired the broadcast/media committee since 1997.
The relationship between Belichick and Kraft/the Patriots has become increasingly icy since he was fired following the 2023 season.
Maye earns honor
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye won the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in Monday night’s win over the Giants.
Maye went 24-of-31 for 282 yards with two touchdowns in the 33-15 win over the Giants. He also rushed six times for 12 yards.
It’s Maye’s first player of the week honor of his two-year career. Maye is the NFL MVP favorite over Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, among others.
The Patriots are 11-2 this season with Maye as their starter. He’s completed 71.5% of his passes for 3,412 yards with 23 touchdowns and six interceptions. The Patriots are on their bye week, but he leads the NFL in passing yards, completion percentage and with a 111.9 passer rating.
Maye was also first in Pro Bowl voting as of Monday afternoon. That’s despite a loaded class of quarterbacks in the AFC, which includes Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow.
No WR1
Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel reiterated Monday that “the strength of our wide receiver unit is in the unit.”
Vrabel, offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels and wide receivers coach Todd Downing have praised the selflessness of the positional group this season.
No Patriots wide receiver is on pace for 1,000 yards or double-digit touchdowns. Stefon Diggs leads the unit with 64 catches for 705 yards, while Kayshon Boutte paces the group with six touchdowns.
Four Patriots wide receivers – Diggs, Boutte, Mack Hollins and DeMario Douglas – each over over 400 receiving yards.
“I know that that’s hard for a position, especially that position, but everybody’s catching passes, everybody’s catching touchdowns, they’re trying to block when they don’t have the ball,” Vrabel continued. “And I understand and I appreciate that. And so, I remind them of that. And it can’t – it’s not going to be just one guy getting 15 or 16 targets every week. I just don’t think that that’s what this is.
“I appreciate their unselfishness, and I think that that is just a small microcosm of what I want our football team to look like and feel, and be excited when Kyle (Williams) catches a touchdown, when Kayshon catches a touchdown or whoever it may be that gets a big third down conversion for us.”