The New England Patriots are one of the most successful NFL franchises of the 21st-century. It is easy to forget about the many years of mediocrity and ridicule the franchise faced. Before the arrival of owner Robert Kraft, the Patriots had been close to the bottom of the NFL rankings. The ownership of Kraft brought a true fan to the helm of the Patriots and coincided with the return of hope to the fanbase.

When thinking about the impact of Robert Kraft, the arrival of Bill Belichick is seen as a turning point. However, Bill Parcells remained coach after the 1994 purchase of the team by Kraft. Parcells had been appointed in 1993, with the team coming off a 2-14 season. The head coach remained in place and led the Patriots to the first divisional titles and a 1996 Super Bowl appearance.

Understanding the need to leave Parcells in charge for the first seasons of his ownership shows the pragmatism of Kraft. It would have been easy to make a quick decision and jettison the work of the previous regime. Instead, Robert Kraft set out to build a dynasty based on the past and the successful future of the franchise.

Business and sports come together for Kraft, with his love of the Patriots driven by his education at Harvard Business School. Robert Kraft had been a season ticket across three decades as he built a reputation as an impressive business leader. Kraft leveraged his position as the landowner of the Foxboro Stadium. The paper magnate pushed himself towards the top of the sports industry through his success on the field. Off the field, Robert Kraft has given the Patriots a solid financial base. The addition of Patriots Place residential and retail park has given the franchise a strong financial foundation for decades to come. See this page for additional information.

 

Learn more about Kraft on https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/robert-kraft