In August of 2019, Bill Belichick took his New England Patriots on a detour.
Having arrived in Canton, Ohio to attend the Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement of former Patriots cornerback Ty Law, Belichick combed over the Hall’s historic collections for the better part of an entire weekend. He studied exhibits, archives and videos, spending hours in between with staff asking and answering questions. He then wandered through a vast expanse of bronze busts and plaques telling the story of how football has been shaped over more than a century.
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That same visit, Belichick shared his Canton love affair with his football team, bringing his players and staff in for a tour before heading to meet the Detroit Lions for a joint practice.
These were the kind of pilgrimages Belichick made during his youth, when he’d visit the Hall of Fame with his father, Steve, a former player, coach and scout who imparted upon Bill a granular reverence for football. Steve is in those HOF archives, written into history by virtue of one season with the Lions as a fullback in 1941. Someday, Bill will be enshrined among those busts, too.
As we have learned this week, that bust reportedly won’t be going up this summer. Belichick inexplicably missed the HOF cut on his first ballot appearance, failing to attain the necessary 40 of 50 votes for enshrinement. That means if Patriots owner Robert Kraft gets his much coveted “door knock” next week in Santa Clara, California, informing him of his entrance into the Hall, it will be an honor that came at the expense of leaving Belichick’s doorway silent.
Kraft may be in. Belichick apparently isn’t. And that could end up depriving both of one last jointly shared football victory. It’s a moment that, frankly, might have been able to douse the smoldering mess between them and heal some wounds. Now it threatens to become the deepest cut, with Kraft potentially going into the Hall of Fame ahead of Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady, the two biggest football architects of a shared Patriots dynasty.
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That is, if Kraft wants it to go this way.
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In reality, he may end up with a monumentally unfair opportunity at extending an extraordinary olive branch here. Not one that he asked for and not one that he should be burdened with. Certainly not one that anyone in football should expect. But it’s there nonetheless: If the Hall of Fame beckons him next week, Kraft could accept the honor, but decline his enshrinement until he and Belichick can enter together.
It would be an unprecedented moment in NFL history, of course. And also completely implausible and preposterous considering the rift that has developed between Kraft and Belichick. Not to mention an act of pure grace that would be cleaning up a vote that is being admonished by a multitude of HOF selectors.
Robert Kraft on Bill Belichick: “Whatever perceptions may exist about any personal differences between Bill and me, I strongly believe Bill Belichick’s record and body of work speak for themselves.” (Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
(Boston Globe via Getty Images)
It would also be remarkable. To the point of elevating Kraft in a way that wins and trophies can’t.
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It’s not often we see NFL team owners deprive themselves of something they want. If anything, it’s the opposite, with their riches punctuated by superyachts, palatial homes, private jets, political influence, powerful friends and so many other lavish trappings of billionaire wealth. And to be fair, some extremely generous philanthropy, too. Kraft is among the league’s elite when it comes to giving, reportedly to nearly the tune of a billion dollars spread among multiple charities, foundations, causes and other well-intentioned pursuits. But league history has never seen a Hall of Fame candidate hit the pause button when presented with football immortality. It simply doesn’t happen. And if that’s not the kind of gesture from Kraft that could repair a rift with Belichick, one that was created and instigated by both men, then there isn’t a meaningful peace to be had between the two.
For his part, Kraft hasn’t remained silent on Belichick’s snub, telling the Associated Press on Wednesday that Belichick “unequivocally” deserved to be elected in this class.
“Whatever perceptions may exist about any personal differences between Bill and me, I strongly believe Bill Belichick’s record and body of work speak for themselves,” Kraft said. “As head coach of the New England Patriots for more than two decades, he set the standard for on-field excellence, preparation, and sustained success in the free agency and salary cap era of the National Football League. He is the greatest coach of all time and he unequivocally deserves to be a unanimous first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Famer.”
Brady, who has also had some chilly moments with Belichick, echoed the sentiments during an appearance on Seattle sports radio, telling the “Brock & Salk” show that “no coach” should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer if Belichick isn’t.
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“I don’t understand it,” Brady said Wednesday. “I was with him every day. If he’s not a first ballot Hall of Famer, there’s really no coach that ever should be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Which is completely ridiculous because people deserve it. He’s incredible. There’s no coach I’d rather play for.”
“In the end, he’s going to get into the Hall of Fame,” Brady added. “I’m not worried about that. A lot of times in life — for all of life, for all of us, things don’t happen exactly how you want them or on your timeline. We’ll all be there to celebrate him when it does happen and he’s going to have a huge turnout from so many players, coaches, that appreciate everything that he did, and the commitment that he made to winning, and the impact that he had on our lives.”
While it means something to have Kraft and Brady endorse him, it would have been more meaningful to see the coach and franchise owner enter into the Hall of Fame together. Not for the gawking at potential awkwardness between them, but to memorialize what they achieved together. And to give each of them a moment to once again share an honor that is theirs individually but also collectively. To put on gold jackets that they earned for each other.
Whether Kraft gets in first or not, that’s a celebration they can still have. And maybe the squashing of differences comes through the passage of time and the opportunity to pay tribute to each other. First with Kraft honoring Belichick in his speech and then next with the team owner welcoming Belichick into the Hall of Fame next year. And then, in 2028, with both men welcoming Brady together.
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Given how much Kraft has wanted this honor, that’s likely the way this will go — with Kraft getting in and then advocating for voters to fix the mistake they made with Belichick. But there’s still a chance here for him to elevate himself in league and football history that would be unprecedented.
If he has the votes for entry, Kraft pausing his own enshrinement might be the gesture that meaningfully and forever repairs his relationship with Belichick. A forever moment for both — and for the Patriots — that’s worth the wait.