SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Bill Belichick has company. Sources confirm that Robert Kraft has not been admitted to the Hall of Fame's class of 2026. A first-time finalist, as was his former coach, there were some who thought this was Kraft’s year. But he did not get the required 40 votes (out of 50) to earn enshrinement.
In a weekend interview on CNBC’s Squawk Box, Kraft tried to downplay the importance of his own inclusion in the Hall, saying in part, "What matters to me is we win Sunday. That's a function of how the team we're invested in and organize [is judged]."
However, we know that flies in the face of the team's recent efforts to sway voters in Kraft’s direction (although they have been less public about courting voters).
“I would just say that that's unfortunate,” Mike Vrabel said at his press conference Tuesday morning. “I would say that in my experiences with Robert, (he) is more than deserving, and he'll be in the Hall of Fame. I’m just not in charge of deciding when that happens.
“And so I appreciate the relationship that I've had with him and the success as a player and now as a coach. So he's done everything that we've needed and provided the support that we've needed as a staff and as a team. So I'm glad that he's back here and continuing to help us do things that will help the team win and ultimately allow him to be recognized.”
You certainly can’t tell the story of the NFL, especially over the last quarter-century, without prominently featuring the Patriots. Their six Super Bowl titles - all earned between 2001 and 2019 - match the Steelers' all-time total. But the new voting process, introduced in 2025, pits owners against coaches against senior players. Between 1 and 3 of the 5 finalists can earn a spot and will go into the Hall alongside three to five modern-era players.
"Bill Belichick's record goes without saying, same with the Patriots and Robert Kraft, who is also a candidate," Roger Goodell said on Monday (before the Kraft news was leaked). "They are spectacular. They have contributed so much to this game, and I believe they will be Hall of Famers."
Just not this summer. And considering how long they’ve kept Kraft waiting, maybe not anytime soon.
ALL EYES ON JSN
In the 2023 NFL Draft, just three picks separated Christian Gonzalez and Jaxson Smith-Njigba. Gonzalez went 17th overall to New England (after they traded back), while Smith-Njigba went 20th to Seattle. Fast forward to this Sunday, when that matchup could very well decide the Super Bowl. I’d say this has worked out pretty well for both sides, wouldn’t you?
The Pats have given no indication of how they’ll approach JSN. Nor should they (hello, competitive advantage). Gonzalez told me “of course” when I asked if he would want to shadow the Seahawks #1 receiver, but added that he’ll do whatever is asked. Per FTN, Gonzalez has only matched up with the team’s top pass catcher on 26% of the snaps this season. That’s a career low (though his rookie season was cut way short by injury).
There’s also the trickle-down effect to consider were the Pats to buck their season-long formula and let Gonzalez go mano a mano with JSN. For instance, Carlton Davis has only taken 29% of his snaps as the right cornerback. He says he’s not uncomfortable there, but given how this Patriots defense has operated all season, would they be putting a player in a position that he’s not as comfortable with? That’s a question Vrabel and his staff have to answer (and probably already have). In talking to Davis, though, he sure made a compelling argument to buck the trends and let Gonzalez loose on the Seahawks' best offensive player (1,965 receiving yards in 2025, including playoffs).
“I feel like when you were able to be a guy who can follow somebody and kind of limit his targets and plays, it opens up defense more,” he told me. “It allows you to be more aggressive in coverage, but it also gives you a chance to rush the quarterback, because now the quarterback - he doesn't have a clean look, and it's not like an easy access throw. It makes him, like, kind of wait a little bit, be a little bit more hesitant, and it allows your rush to get there. It just helps the defense flow more.”
Plus, as Davis notes, it’s not as if Gonzalez hasn’t done this in parts of games, especially since the hamstring fully healed, and to his way of thinking, it’s gone well.
“He's been doing a good job, and they've been having him follow guys since, like, since he got back for real,” Davis noted. “I love to see young corners get a chance to go out there and just strap guys. When I was a young corner, that's what I wanted to do, and that's what I did. So to be able to see him go out there and compete at the highest level - for me, it was such a fulfilling thing when I could go and strap somebody and follow him around. I want that for him, and I want him to keep doing it and just be as dominant as he can be.”
The two players have shown considerable respect for each other. That’s a little out of character for Gonzalez, who hasn’t quite mastered the subtle Stephen Gilmore approach of verbally jabbing opposing pass catchers. Gilmore was so good at it and so soft spoken that there were times when I’d have to re-listen to the interview to catch the shade. Gonzalez generally tamps down his praise. But not this week.
“He can do everything from every spot on the field,” he said. “He’s a smooth route runner. Can run every route and is just an amazing player. I’ve got the most respect for him and am excited for Sunday.”
“He's an elite defender,” countered Smith-Njigba. “He's an elite guy. He's a very well-rounded cornerback. Can do a lot of things, plays the game really well, so it's a lot of respect, and it's going to be a great matchup.”
The Pats could also dig out a scheme from the Belichick playbook and decide to double Smith-Njigba with a corner not named Gonzalez and one of the safeties. That would allow the 23-year-old to line up across from Rashid Shaheed or Cooper Kupp, and if all went well, eliminate them as possible options for Sam Darnold. Of course, in doing so, the defense would have one less body to clog up the middle of the field, and Darnold is not shy about attacking the seams or between the hashes. The Pats were 12th against middle-of-the-field throws this season, but as we’ve written about in this space, there were a lot of coordinator-quarterback combos (see Michael Penix and Zac Robinson, for instance) who just didn’t or wouldn’t capitalize on opportunities there.
There’s also the “Where’s Waldo?” part of this equation. Afterlining up outside on 80% of his snaps during the regular season, Smith-Njigba lined up all over the joint in the NFC Title game and made an impact (receptions and yards)
Wide right (4-55)
Wide left (2-50)
Slot right (2-22)
Backfield (1-14)
Slot left (1-12)
The more Smith-Njigba moves around, the more it stresses communication or, in some cases, can eliminate the doubles/brackets.
“I mean, he's kind of everywhere, like, you know, not just lined up at one spot,” observed Craig Woodson. “So you can't really disrupt him at one spot. He's on the inside, outside, even in the backfield.”
And much like Josh McDaniels has minored in getting Rhamondre Stevenson on a defensive end in coverage (see the Jets game) or Pop Douglas on a linebacker, Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak is realizing something similar with his star receiver.
“He can change the picture on you,” Jaylinn Hawkins said of Kubiak. “We’ve got to be alert to that and continue to be good communicators. Everyone has to be on the same page or...”
Mistakes happen, and Smith-Njigba is capable of making you pay as he showed by also leading the NFL with 53 receptions for 1,258 yards and eight touchdowns on downfield passes (10+ air yards, as defined by FTN). The Pats, however, allowed the 2nd-fewest yards per attempt and the 6th-lowest EPA per dropback (0.17) on the same throws.
“Just sudden, savvy, competitive, really good play strength for – his stature, you wouldn't think – he's not a 6'3", 220-pound receiver, but he's got great play strength,” Vrabel said. “He's a really good contested catch. I think good route craft, understanding the zone, and man. Great body control.”
Sounds like a man not to be trifled with, and the Patriots know it. We’ll see if their plan does something very few teams have been able to accomplish this season - and that’s taking away the heart-and-soul of the Seattle offense. Get your popcorn.