Robert Kraft Confirms Vladimir Putin Stole His Super Bowl 39 Ring On 'The Dynasty'

Russian President Vladimir Putin stole Robert Kraft’s Super Bowl 39 ring. The New England Patriots owner confirmed it himself on an episode of Apple TV+’s "The Dynasty."

After his team defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 in 2005, Kraft for some reason thought it would be a great idea to visit Russia as part of his celebration tour. Personally, I would have chosen a less hostile environment (the Bahamas, maybe?), but hey, to each his own.

When in Russia, he visited Putin in St. Petersburg along with former Fox Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch. Naturally, a very proud Kraft brought his 4.9-karat ring with him.   

Putin had a speaking engagement with the Russian media, and Kraft and Murdoch followed him to the event. Murdoch suggests that Kraft should let Putin wear it, just to try it on.

That’s when things got interesting.

Kraft recalls Putin saying that he could use the piece of jewelry as a lethal weapon if necessary.

"He put it on, and then he looked at me, and he said, ‘I could kill someone with this ring,’" Kraft recalled. "So I did a whiplash, and I said, ‘Mr. President, you could kill someone without it.’"

Putin Found A Way To Steal Kraft's Ring

Okay, so that’s an oddly foreboding interaction. But then it took another strange turn.

After letting Putin try it on, Kraft held out his hand to get the ring back. But he never saw it again.

"He took the ring off, and I had my hand out, and he took the ring," Kraft said. "He put it in his side pocket. Three KGB guys come around him, and he’s off."

Kraft and Putin shake hands (Kraft on right, Putin on left) during their meeting in 2005.  (Photo credit should read ALEXANDER NIKOLAYEV/AFP via Getty Images)

That’s not where it ends. After coming back to the U.S., Kraft said that he was told to say he had gifted the ring to Putin by the White House.

"A call came in from the White House, and they said, ‘It would be good for US-Soviet relations if you (said you) meant to give them the ring as a gift," Kraft recalled.

This all happened in the summer of 2005. Of course, Putin denied that he stole the ring several years later. But frankly, I’d trust Kraft’s side of the story over a guy who used to work for the KGB.

And that’s not my Patriots fandom bias creeping in.