Patch Patriots Roundup: 3 Storylines To Know Ahead Of Week 4

FOXBOROUGH, MA — It's Week 4 of the NFL season and, in Foxborough, the biggest storyline isn't one that has all that much to do with the product on the field.

From Hall of Famers with Patriots ties to future Hall of Famers with Patriots ties all the way to private equity buying into the team, here are three storylines about the organization this week.

Kraft Agrees To Sell Minority Stake

Reports from across the media industry reported Thursday that team owner Robert Kraft has agreed to sell a minority stake in the team in a deal that values the organization at over $9 billion.

The private equity firm Sixth Street is reportedly set to purchase 3 percent of the organization while the billionaire Dean Metropoulos is set to purchase 5 percent.

Kraft and his family have owned the entirety of the organization since he first bought the team for $172 million in January 1994.

Though the deal needs league approval — the next meeting of NFL owners is scheduled for October — it is the first investment by Sixth Street under the NFL's private equity policy that was put into effect in 2024.

Three teams, the Bills, Chargers and Dolphins, have sold portions of the respective organizations to the private equity firms Arctos and Ares. The Patriots deal is the first for Sixth Street, which was the third of three firms approved in the private equity policy.

Sixth Street has also invested in the Boston Celtics.

Bill Parcells, Julian Edelman Are Patriots Hall Of Famer

The Patriots inducted two former members of the franchise into the team Hall of Fame last weekend.

Parcells coached the team from 1993 to 1996. Edelman was a Super Bowl winner, playoff killer and borderline New England folk hero during his time with the franchise.

The full ceremony can be seen here.

20 Former Patriots Up For Hall Of Fame

The team's official website compiled a list of all the former players who are nominees for spots in the Pro Football Hall of Fame during the Class of 2026 cycle.

The process starts with 128 players to consider before being narrowed down to 50 in October before rounds count the list to 25 then 15 "Modern-Era" finalists.

Among the notable candidates are Vince Wilfork, Adam Vinatieri, Wes Welker, Rodney Harrison and Ted Bruschi.

The full list is here.

How To Watch The Game

Opponent: Carolina Panthers

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

Network: Fox

Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub