Bill Belichick has the backing of another key figure from the New England Patriots’ dynasty – as well as someone with whom he repeatedly clashed – in the wake of the coach’s exclusion from the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2026 class.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft told the Associated Press on Wednesday that Belichick deserved to be chosen in his first year of eligibility.

‘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 in a statement.

‘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.’

On Jan. 27, ESPN reported that Belichick – a finalist in the coaches category – did not receive the necessary 40 of 50 votes required for induction. Despite holding winning a record six Super Bowl titles as a head coach and 333 regular-season victories – second only to Hall of Famer Don Shula – Belichick now must wait until at least 2027 to be selected.

Kraft is also a finalist for the 2026 class as the contributor finalist, with Roger Craig, Ken Anderson and L.C. Greenwood the candidates in the senior category. Belichick was also in that pool of finalists, from which one to three figures will be inducted. This year’s class will also feature anywhere from three to five modern-era selections chosen from a group of 15.

Kraft hired Belichick in January 2000, and the Patriots achieved an unparalleled level of success in the coach’s 24-year tenure. But major divisions between the two emerged as the partnership wore on, with the relationship becoming even more strained after Tom Brady’s exit in 2020. With the Patriots having suffered losing seasons in three of the four years following Brady’s departure, Kraft parted ways with Belichick after the 2023 season.

Brady was among the host of former Patriots players who came to Belichick’s defense.

‘I don’t understand it. I mean, I was with him every day. If he’s not a first-ballot Hall of Famer, there’s really no coach that should ever be a Hall of Famer,’ Brady said Wednesday in an interview with Seattle Sports.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2026 class will be revealed Feb. 5 at NFL Honors in San Francisco.