Vinatieri Reflects on Hall of Fame Induction
Former New England Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri shared that his old teammates—Tom Brady, coach Bill Belichick, and owner Robert Kraft—reached out to him after missing his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Canton, Ohio.
During a recent phone appearance on WEEI, Vinatieri, who celebrated four Super Bowl wins with the franchise’s big stars, noted there were no hard feelings about their absence, despite some lighthearted jabs made during the event. “Life happens; I get it,” Vinatieri, 53, commented.
He added, “Mr. Kraft called me, stuck on the tarmac, clearly upset about his flight. Coach Belichick messaged me a few months ago, saying they couldn’t make it.” As for Brady, he mentioned, “Tom called to say he was stuck on family vacation plans he couldn’t abandon.”
Vinatieri noted that Brady was actually the first to reach out after the ceremony, saying, “I got a message at 7 a.m. after the party ended at 3 a.m. I was a bit red-eyed and tired, you know?” He recalled Brady’s message: “That was awesome. You stole the show. I hope you’re hungover, haha.” They shared some laughs, reinforcing their bond.
“There’s really no animosity here. I have so much love for them all,” he remarked. His speech humorously included some mentions of Belichick, joking about him not attending because he was “judging his girlfriend’s cheerleading competition.”
“If I mention you in my speech, it means you’re important to me,” he explained during the WEEI segment, attempting to clarify any misinterpretations of his comments. “It was all meant to be in good fun. If someone didn’t find it funny, well, maybe they need to lighten up a bit.”
Interestingly, Vinatieri’s induction coincided with discussions about Belichick, who had led the Patriots to six Super Bowl victories, further adding a layer of intrigue to the story.
Vinatieri felt even comfortable poking fun at his wife, who had cautioned him not to ruin the Hall of Fame evening. He quipped, “Pat McAfee is here—he’s the only one who loved squeezing my balls more than my wife.”
His remarks didn’t stop there; Vinatieri humorously recognized former Colts teammate Peyton Manning, thanking him for funding the event’s teleprompter and referencing his significant football intellect.
He didn’t shy away from mentioning the infamous “Deflategate” incident, where Brady faced suspension for allegedly deflating footballs, showcasing his knack for humor even in tense situations.
Having played 24 NFL seasons with the Patriots and Colts, Vinatieri is often considered one of the most clutch kickers in history. His two pivotal field goals in Super Bowls helped secure victories for the Patriots, and he retired holding records with 2,673 points and 599 field goals.
