New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has formally denied that he is the father of a “secret baby,” that his 38-year-old girlfriend welcomed into the world in 2017.

The NFL owner’s 38-year-old girlfriend, Ricki Noel Lander, had a baby last year but kept the pregnancy out of the media, according to Page Six. Some immediately assumed that that the Patriots owner was the child’s father.

Indeed, when Page Six contacted Kraft’s office, the gossip reporters were told that it was “a private matter.”

It was also reported that Kraft and Lander have been seen together for the last four years.

However, after the report broke, Kraft’s office release a short statement saying in no uncertain terms that the baby is not the 76-year-old Patriots owner’s child.

“While Robert Kraft is not the biological father, he is thrilled with Ricki’s blessing of having a healthy child,” the statement read according to TMZ.

Robert Kraft has four grown sons to his long-time wife, Myra Kraft, who passed away in 2011.

Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston.