The New England Patriots were built on precision, trust, and relentless focus. Yet late in their historic dynasty, a seemingly harmless gift introduced politics into a space that thrived on unity. What began as a gesture between friends quickly became a moment that risked disrupting the team’s chemistry and identity.
A Gift From Robert Kraft Sparked Political Tension Inside the Patriots
During the final chapters of New England’s dominance, the franchise found itself at the center of an unusual controversy. Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and Robert Kraft had each maintained long-standing personal relationships with Donald Trump.
As those relationships became public, the team was labeled “Trump’s Patriots,” a label that clashed with the Patriots’ carefully cultivated football-first culture.
Gary Myers, in his book “Brady vs. Belichick: The Dynasty Debate,” as reported by PFSN’s Allison Koehler, describes how the public perception differed from the private reality. Brady’s relationship with Trump began as a social one before politics ever entered the picture.
The two met early in Brady’s career and occasionally played golf or exchanged messages. There was no political motive, but that changed when a symbol of Trump’s campaign appeared in the locker room.
A red͏ “͏Make America͏ Great Again” hat͏, a gift from Kraft͏, was spotted in Brady’s locker. The ͏hat, widely recognized ͏as a political statement, immediately drew attention and created ͏an uncomfortable situation within the team͏. Myers said, ͏“When Tom realized that it had the potential to cause friction in͏ the locker room, he immediately took it down.”͏
Kraft’s own friendship with Trump dated back to a deeply personal time in his life. After his wife, Myra, passed away in 2011, Trump offered support and encouragement, often urging Kraft to stay active and involved.
Myers explained, “Trump was really a true friend to him.” However, that bond changed after the events of January 6, 2021, when Trump’s actions became far more divisive.
Belichick also faced a politically charged decision. He ͏was set to receive the Presidential Medal of ͏Freedom shortly after the Capitol riot͏, but veteran safety Devin McCourty warned him ͏about the potential impact on the locker room.
Myers recalled, “You are basically going to lose the team if you do that.” Belichick ultimately declined the award, which Myers described as “a very smart move.”
Despite the public perception, Myers believes the team’s political leanings did not match those of its leadership. He stated, “I am pretty certain that if you took a vote of the Patriot locker room… he wouldn’t have won the popular vote in any of those.”
The MAGA hat incident might seem small, but it revealed how easily external pressures can disrupt the delicate balance of a winning culture. Even in one of sports’ greatest dynasties, unity required careful choices, and sometimes, removing a simple hat was the most important one.