Patriots owner Kraft recovering from back surgery, will miss Gronk ceremony

• Mike ReissNov 5, 2026, 08:48 AM ET

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  Mike Reiss is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the New England Patriots. Reiss has covered the Patriots since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2009. In 2019, he was named Massachusetts Sportswriter of the Year by the National Sports Media Association.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots' injury bug has reached the highest levels of the franchise.

Owner Robert Kraft is recovering from back surgery, which he said will keep him "on injured reserve" and force him to miss Rob Gronkowski's Patriots Hall of Fame induction on Saturday afternoon.

"As much pain as I was in before having surgery, it pains me even more to miss the ceremony," Kraft told ESPN on Thursday.

Kraft added that doctors have instructed him to stay off his feet, which means he will also miss Sunday's home game against the Green Bay Packers, as well as the Patriots' trip to Munich to face the Detroit Lions the following week.

Kraft, 85, shared the news with Gronkowski, who underwent multiple back surgeries during a playing career that included three Super Bowl championships with the Patriots, with a touch of humor.

"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," he cracked.

Gronkowski was voted into the Patriots Hall of Fame by fans in April in his first year of eligibility.

Because Gronkowski is part of Fox's pregame show on Sundays, Kraft had hoped to have the induction paired with the show being aired at Gillette Stadium early in the season.

But when the Patriots' schedule was announced in May, there was only one Fox game -- the Nov. 8 contest against the Packers -- and that was also the date the network was committed to its Salute to Service coverage.

So the Patriots have worked with Fox to coordinate Gronkowski's schedule, allowing the four-time All-Pro tight end to be present for his induction Saturday and also to be honored at halftime Sunday, while also fulfilling his broadcasting obligations.

Kraft reminisced about Gronkowski's impact after joining the Patriots as a second-round draft choice out of the University of Arizona in 2010.

"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."

The Patriots (5-3) have been plagued by injuries throughout the season, especially to key offensive players. New England defeated the Miami Dolphins in Week 8 without star wide receiver A.J. Brown, running back TreVeyon Henderson, wide receivers Mack Hollins and Romeo Doubs, and starting guards Mike Onwenu and Alijah Vera-Tucker. Tight end Hunter Henry also left the game because of a foot injury.

Gronkowski played nine seasons in New England, was part of Patriots teams that won nine AFC East championships, appeared in the AFC Championship Game eight times, and made it to the Super Bowl four times.

With New England, he totaled 521 receptions for 7,861 yards and 79 touchdown receptions in the regular season and posted 81 receptions for 1,163 yards and 12 touchdowns in the postseason. Gronkowski also played two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Kraft noted how his thunderous touchdown spikes were felt across the region, as was his infectious energy and philanthropic work that contributed to him being named the franchise's Ron Burton Community Service Award recipient in 2016.

Kraft said Gronkowski's one-handed catch against the Denver Broncos in 2014, which set up his 50th career touchdown, was one of the best he's ever seen.