Robert Kraft Ties the Knot Again: Meet His Younger Wife, Dana
New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has taken a surprising step into matrimony once more, a move he never anticipated following the passing of his first wife, Myra Hiatt Kraft.
Married for 48 years, Robert and Myra raised four sons before her battle with ovarian cancer claimed her life at 68 in 2011. After a six-year relationship with actress Ricki Noel Lander, Kraft found love again with Dr. Dana Kraft (née Blumberg), an accomplished ophthalmologist who is 33 years his junior.
“People talk to me about sports, and I haven’t talked much about my personal life, but I’m going to because of how lucky I am, having found the woman that I did,” Kraft shared in a 2023 interview.
In an unexpected twist, the couple exchanged vows in an impromptu ceremony in New York City in October 2022, catching family and friends off guard. While Dana maintains a low public profile, she has actively collaborated with the New England Patriots Foundation on its “Pawtriots” pet adoption initiative set to launch in 2025.
Robert’s first marriage to Myra Hiatt Kraft began in June 1963 while she was a student at Brandeis University. The couple welcomed four sons: Jonathan, Daniel, Joshua, and David, each of whom has made significant contributions to the family legacy.
Myra was not only a devoted mother but also a prominent philanthropist, eventually becoming president of the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation. Her influence was felt deeply within the organization, particularly when she opposed the drafting of Nebraska lineman Christian Peter in 1996 due to his past legal issues. The Patriots rescinded their pick shortly after her concerns were voiced.
In July 2011, the Kraft family released a heartfelt statement confirming Myra’s passing, expressing their collective heartbreak over the loss.
During the 2011 NFL season, the Patriots honored Myra by wearing patches emblazoned with her initials “MHK.” Reflecting on his late wife’s impact, Robert admitted in March 2023 that he never thought he would remarry after her death. “I was really messed up when my first wife died—for over a year,” he revealed.
The couple’s relationship began to blossom publicly when they were spotted together at the French Open in June 2019. Rumors of their romance circulated as early as 2017 when Dana joined Robert on the red carpet at an Elton John AIDS Foundation gala.
Michael Rubin, former co-owner of the Philadelphia 76ers, disclosed that Robert and Dana’s first date took place at Olde Heritage Tavern in Lenox, Massachusetts. In celebration of their wedding, Rubin humorously renamed the bar “Blumberg’s” for a short time.
“Even though Dana Blumberg is now Dana Kraft, Robert will forever be a Blumberg in my eyes,” Rubin quipped on social media.
Robert described meeting Dana as an instance of “God’s hand at work” in his life. “I met a woman who was just off the charts, and she made me very happy,” he said.
Dr. Dana Kraft earned her medical degree from St. Louis University in 2000 and has served as an associate professor of ophthalmology at Columbia University while working with New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
The couple’s engagement was publicly announced by fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger during a gala event in March 2022. Guests noted Dana’s impressive engagement ring, which she later showcased at various events.
In October 2022, notable figures including Tom Brady and Jon Bon Jovi attended a surprise wedding reception for Robert and Dana. Most guests believed they were attending a different celebration until Elton John introduced them as husband and wife.
Robert later organized a surprise 50th birthday party for Dana at Harlem's Apollo Theater in January 2024, featuring a concert by Dave Matthews. “I always loved this theater,” he reminisced about his college days.
The Krafts have also made headlines with their “Pawtriots” program aimed at facilitating pet adoptions across New England. “All of these animals are here because they have been surrendered or neglected,” Dana explained during a fundraiser.
At a recent adoption drive at Gillette Stadium, Robert credited Dana for spearheading the initiative. “My little, brilliant doctor wife came up with this concept,” he said proudly.
The New England Patriots reported that their Pawtriots program successfully facilitated the adoption of 70 dogs during two events held at Patriot Place Plaza in Foxborough in 2025.
