New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has raised eyebrows by questioning why Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame while he has never been seriously considered. Despite Kraft’s unprecedented success, including six Super Bowl championships, his name has yet to make it onto the final ballot for Canton enshrinement.
Kraft’s frustration stems from the fact that Jones, who was inducted in 2017, has only three championships, none of which have come since 1995. “He hasn’t been to the NFC title game in two decades and he gets in? How does that work?” Kraft reportedly told a confidant, according to an ESPN report. The tension between the two owners dates back to a heated 2022 meeting over a new contract for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, during which Jones famously warned Kraft, “Don’t f*** with me!”
Despite his impressive contributions to the league—including helping to end the 2011 lockout and securing a $110 billion TV rights deal—Kraft’s candidacy for the Hall of Fame has been overshadowed by scandals involving the Patriots, including “Spygate” and “Deflategate.” Detractors argue that Kraft’s association with these controversies could be why his candidacy hasn’t gained momentum.
Meanwhile, Jones is widely recognized for his marketing prowess, including leading the NFL’s 1994 deal with Fox and pushing for teams to pursue their own endorsement deals with brands like Nike, Pepsi, and Miller Lite. While Jones’ business acumen earned him a spot in the Hall, Kraft’s detractors point to his involvement in what some voters consider “the biggest cheating scandal in NFL history.”
As of now, only five NFL owners have been enshrined in Canton since 2000, including Jones, the Steelers’ Dan Rooney, the Bills’ Ralph Wilson, the 49ers’ Eddie DeBartolo, and the Broncos’ Pat Bowlen. Whether Kraft will eventually join their ranks remains uncertain, but his legacy is undoubtedly a topic of debate as the Hall of Fame selection process continues.
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