Robert Kraft recovering from back surgery, will miss Rob Gronkowski ceremony

The New England Patriots are set to honor tight‑end legend Rob Gronkowski with the franchise’s 38th Hall‑of‑Fame induction on Saturday, but the ceremony will be missing one of its most visible figures. 85‑year‑old owner Robert Kraft, still recovering from a recent back operation, told ESPN’s Mike Reiss he has been placed on “injured reserve” and doctors have ordered him to stay off his feet. "I never want to experience that again," Kraft said, a sentiment that underscores how even the league’s most seasoned executives can be sidelined by the same ailments that haunted the players they employ.

Kraft’s absence is more than a symbolic gap. He confirmed the surgery will also keep him from attending the Patriots’ home game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday and the Week 10 showdown with the Detroit Lions in Munich, Germany, on Nov. 15. While Kraft’s recovery timeline remains vague, his decision to skip the Hall‑of‑Fame ceremony reflects a personal pain that, according to him, exceeds the discomfort he felt before the operation.

Gronkowski’s résumé explains why his induction matters. Drafted in the second round in 2010, he spent nine seasons in Foxborough, winning three Super Bowls (2014, 2016, 2018) and posting 80 total touchdowns – the most in Patriots history – alongside 7,861 receiving yards, making him second in that category for the team. He earned five Pro Bowl nods, four first‑team All‑Pro selections, and a spot on the NFL’s 2010s All‑Decade Team. Fans voted him in during April, his first year of eligibility, and a one‑day contract signed last November allowed him to retire as a Patriot. Though his Pro Football Hall of Fame candidacy won’t be decided until 2027, the franchise’s honor cements his legacy within New England’s storied era.

The dual absence of Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick – also reported missing – adds a layer of poignancy to a night otherwise filled with celebration.

The convergence of these injuries invites speculation about the long‑term health costs of the high‑impact, high‑reward style of play that defined the Belichick‑Kraft era.

What remains unclear is how Gronkowski, now a full‑time analyst on Fox NFL Sunday, will address Kraft’s absence during the induction speech.