How Patriots Icon Adam Vinatieri Reacted To Hall Of Fame Induction

Not all eligible New England Patriots legends made the cut, but Adam Vinatieri will go into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year.

The NFL revealed Vinatieri as one of five inductees in the 2026 class on Thursday evening. He made several clutch kicks during three Super Bowl championship runs with the Patriots before winning another with the Indianapolis Colts.

On Friday, the NFL shared footage of Vinateri receiving the news from Morten Andersen. He laughed and embraced the fellow kicker, who welcomed the league’s all-time points leader into the Hall of Fame.

Vinatieri reflected on that moment during a Friday appearance on “Up & Adams.” The three-time All-Pro admitted that he was surprised to get inducted during his second year on the ballot.

“You never take it for granted,” Vinatieri said. “That’s for sure. You look at the class and all the finalists and you’re like, ‘Man, any one of these guys are absolutely deserving to make it.’ So, for me, getting the phone call a year ago and letting me know I didn’t make it, I didn’t want to get my expectations and my hopes too high.

“But when they knocked on my door, it was hard choking back the tears.”

Vinatieri said that former Patriots head coach Bill Parcells reached out to congratulate him. He also heard from Bill Belichick, who won’t join him in the 2026 class after controversially falling short of the required votes.

“I heard from him a week or two ago,” Vinatieri said of Belichick. “It was more of a, ‘Hey, I know you’re gonna make it. Congratulations, hopefully.’ That kind of thing. He reached out to me last year when I didn’t make it.”