New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, 85, has announced he's been forced to undergo back surgery.

Billionaire Kraft revealed the news on Thursday morning and added he will be forced to miss the Patriots' next two games while he recovers.

The Patriots are hosting the Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon and will then fly to Germany to play the Detroit Lions in Munich next week.

Kraft's recovery means he'll also be absent from Rob Gronkowski's Patriots Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which is due to take place on Saturday. 

'As much pain as I was in before having surgery, it pains me even more to miss the ceremony,' Kraft told ESPN on Thursday.

'I always told Gronk that in my next life, I wanted to come back as him because I had never seen him have a bad day. But after a couple of back surgeries, I take that back. I never want to experience that again.' 

Gronkowski, who played nine seasons in New England and won the Super Bowl five times, was voted into the Patriots Hall of Fame back in April in the first year of his eligibility. 

Kraft had hoped to tie the legendary tight end's induction in with his Fox broadcasting commitments at a Patriots game early in the season.

However, the network will broadcast a Patriots game for the first time this year on Sunday and it will also be their Salute to Service show.

Instead, Gronk will be inducted on Saturday and then celebrated during halftime of Sunday's game. 

It comes after a difficult few months for Kraft after he urged promoters to drop controversial rapper Macklemore from Ed Sheeran's Loop Tour before they were due to play at his Gillette Stadium.

Macklemore made a number of pro-Palestinian comments onstage during a September 5 show in New Jersey that sparked fury.

Kraft said in a statement that his desire to see Macklemore dropped was the result of the rapper's comments 'and a broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery.'  

Macklemore later said he was donating $1 million to support Palestinian relief efforts and called on Kraft to match the gift.

A spokesperson for Kraft said the billionaire and Sheeran each agreed to donate $2 million, but they didn't specify where the money will be directed.