Patriots Owner Robert Kraft On 'Injured Reserve' Following Surgery

Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images&period;

Patriots Owner Robert Kraft On 'Injured Reserve' Following Surgery

Originally posted on The Spun | By Chris Rosvoglou | Last updated Nov 5, 2026 9:50 AM ET

Unfortunately for New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, he’s been dealt a serious setback at the age of 85.

Kraft revealed this week that he won’t be able to attend Rob Gronkowski’s induction into the Patriots Hall of Fame this Saturday since he’s still recovering from back surgery. He said that he’s “on injured reserve” at the moment.

“As much pain as I was in before having surgery, it pains me even more to miss the ceremony,” Kraft told ESPN. “I always told Gronk that in my next life, I wanted to come back as him because I had never seen him have a bad day. But after a couple of back surgeries, I take that back. I never want to experience that again.”

Kraft will also miss this weekend’s game against the Green Bay Packers. While he’d love to fly to Munich with the team for next Sunday’s showdown with the Detroit Lions, that seems unlikely due to his current condition.

Feb 2, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft during Opening Night for Super Bowl LX at San Jose Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images© Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Showing support for a Pats legend.

Despite being less than 100 percent right now, Kraft still went out of his way to praise Gronkowski and all the success he accomplished in New England.

“I just love Gronk. One of my greatest moments of love and affection for him was draft day, celebrating on the stage with his dad and brothers. It personified who he is,” Kraft said. “He became a fan favorite almost immediately and remained the standard at tight end for nearly a decade.”

Gronkowski had 521 catches for 7,861 yards and 79 touchdowns during his time with the Patriots. He helped the franchise win three Super Bowl rings before going to Tampa Bay and adding one more Lombardi Trophy to his collection.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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