Robert Kraft Announces Significant Addition To Patriots Hall Of Fame

A legendary head coach finally will be enshrined in Patriots history.

Robert Kraft announced at the annual NFL owners meeting that Bill Parcells will be a contributor to the Patriots Hall of Fame. The New England owner told reporters he called the two-time Super Bowl champion about the offer, which he accepted.

Many Patriots fans grew up with Bill Belichick leading the New England dynasty. However, there is another generation of fans who will point to Parcells as the key figure who rebuilt the franchise’s culture from a laughingstock of the NFL to a legitimate threat.

Parcells became Patriots head coach and general manager in 1993 after a two-year hiatus. He drafted multiple franchise legends, including Drew Bledsoe, Troy Brown, Willie McGinest, Ty Law, Curtis Martin, Lawer Milloy and Tedy Bruschi. During his three-year tenure, Parcells led New England to its first playoff game in eight years in 1994, and in 1996, he helped the Patriots win their first division title in 11 years and led them to Super Bowl XXXI.

The rift between Parcells and Kraft led to the head coach’s departure, and there were still lingering feelings of resentment for decades. Kraft’s induction of Parcells into the Patriots Hall of Fame helped squash any negative feelings and is important with the Pro Football Hall of Famer turning 84 on Aug. 22.