Patriots Reveal Message Robert Kraft Delivered When He Bought The Team 26 Years Ago

It’s a big day today for New England Patriots. Robert Kraft bought the team 26 years ago today on Jan. 21, 1994, ensuring they would stay in New England and not move to St. Louis.

With Robert Kraft at helm, Patriots have won six Super Bowls, 19 AFC East titles and 10 AFC Championships.

Here’s the message Kraft delivered to fans and the media 26 years ago today:

26 years, 19 division titles, 10 conference championships and 6 Super Bowl victories ago today, Robert Kraft purchased the New England #Patriots. pic.twitter.com/0ZTZOtUVBj

— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 21, 2020

“The real equity holders of this team, I hope, will be the fans and the corporate community,” Kraft said. “We’re going to need your support, and I hope we earn it.

“My objective in doing this is to help bring a championship to New England. We didn’t do this to be a doormat for any of the teams. [We] do like to win. We think everything is in place to make that happen.”

The Patriots were to win Super Bowl XXXVI just seven seasons after Robert Kraft bought them. They’ve gone 324-139 for a .700 winning percentage under Kraft.

Kraft About Brady And Belichick

In one interview, Kraft said he was grateful for the consistent presence of longtime star quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick. “We’ve been privileged to keep continuity with two people who are unbelievable at what they do.”

“Even when you are running a business, keeping continuity and having people keep their egos under control” is key, Kraft said. “It’s almost two decades we’ve been able to keep this thing running together.”

Kraft said the team’s brand — and that of the National Football League — is something people can feel good about. “In the world we are living in people are looking to connect.”

Kraft called Brady “the real deal,” adding he’s “one of the greatest, nicest people. He’s the same guy he was 19 years ago.”