The celebration by quarterback Drake Maye and the New England Patriots following their AFC Championship victory over the Broncos on Sunday afternoon revealed an uncomfortable reality that surely resonated thousands of miles away in Texas.
With the Patriots’ trip to Super Bowl LX secured, owner Robert Kraft not only extends his own record with an 11th appearance in the league’s biggest game, but also cements his status as the most successful owner of the modern era. In doing so, he continues to widen the gap between himself and the media shadow of Jerry Jones, who can only watch as the Dallas Cowboys remain the most valuable sports franchise in the world-yet without meaningful success on the field.
Tom Brady and Richard Sherman share moment
The contrast between the two magnates has never been clearer than in 2026. While Kraft celebrates the completion of a successful post-Tom Brady rebuild under head coach Mike Vrabel and Drake Maye, Jones and the Cowboys remain trapped in a championship drought that dates back to 1995 and shows no signs of ending anytime soon.
According to reports from NFL.com, Jones’ ambition remains unchanged: “My ultimate goal is to retire as the owner who has won the most Super Bowls.”
The on-field reality, however, runs counter to that desire. Jones remains stuck at three Lombardi Trophies, while Kraft already owns six and is on the doorstep of competing for a seventh. The difference lies in management philosophy: while Jones continues to insist on serving as his own general manager, Kraft has mastered the art of delegating to football minds, allowing the Patriots’ “new era” to flourish.
The Hall of Fame paradox
Ironically, success on the field has not translated into the ultimate individual recognition for Kraft, unlike Jones, who already has his bust in Canton. According to a CBS Sports report, the primary reason Kraft has yet to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame is not a lack of credentials, but off-field considerations. One voter revealed that the clause regarding the “integrity of the game”-a veiled reference to past controversies such as Spygate and Deflategate-has been a recurring obstacle in the voting process.
Still, Super Bowl 2026 presents a powerful counterargument to that exclusion. By building a second championship-caliber team without Bill Belichick or Tom Brady, Kraft has proven that his ownership model represents the true dynasty, in contrast to a Jones who continues to bet on winning primarily with his checkbook.
