Patriots' Mike Vrabel gets additional Super Bowl fuel after Robert Kraft Hall of Fame update

The NFL community was shocked to learn in late January that former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick won't be a first-ballot Hall of Fame selection this winter. 

Some assumed that Patriots owner Robert Kraft would ultimately receive enough votes for induction as a first-time Hall of Fame finalist this year. It appears that wasn't the case. 

Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick linked with each other in new way

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Tuesday morning that Kraft didn't receive enough votes from the 50-person selection committee to be included in this year's Hall of Fame class. 

"The Hall of Fame's new voting requirements in 2025 inadvertently helped pit Kraft against Belichick," Schefter explained. "Kraft was one of five finalists among contributors, coaches and senior players who last appeared in a game in 2000 or earlier. Kraft was the contributor finalist and Belichick was the coach, with Roger Craig, Ken Anderson and L.C. Greenwood the players."

Previous reports shared that Belichick's involvement in the "Spygate" and "Deflategate" scandals was mentioned during deliberations among Hall of Fame voters. That said, the process for how coaches and owners are selected for the Hall of Fame has come under scrutiny since the Belichick news went public. 

The combination of Kraft and Belichick guided the Patriots to six Super Bowl titles from 2000 through the 2019 season. On Monday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell made it known he believes both Kraft and Belichick "will be Hall of Famers" at some point down the road.  

Will Mike Vrabel use Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick snubs as fuel for Super Bowl LX?

The Pittsburgh Steelers are the only other franchise in NFL history to accumulate six Super Bowl championships. New England would leapfrog the Steelers by defeating the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl LX this coming Sunday.

Meanwhile, first-year Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel earned three Super Bowl rings playing for Kraft and Belichick from 2001 through the 2008 season. Thus, it's not a stretch to think Vrabel may use these perceived slights as bulletin-board material while addressing his players throughout the week. 

As of Tuesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook continued to list the Patriots as 4.5-point underdogs against the Seahawks.