![]() ![]() Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo won a Super Bowl ring playing under Belichick and has interviewed for multiple head coaching vacancies since becoming a New England assistant in 2019. "We'll have a chance to talk about that in the very near future," Kraft said.īut asked later what kind of coach he'll seek, he added: "We're looking for someone who can help us get back to the playoffs and win." It's not immediately clear who Kraft will tap to replace the future Hall of Famer and he declined to get into particulars out of respect for Thursday's announcement. It included one from Brady, who responded with three heart emojis to a post on ESPN's Instagram page which had photos of Belichick and Kraft embracing. Reaction to Thursday's announcement poured in across social media. During a less successful - but also tumultuous - stint with the original Cleveland Browns, Belichick earned 37 of his career victories. With his cutoff hoodies and ever-present scowl, Belichick teamed with quarterback Tom Brady to lead the Patriots to six Super Bowl victories, nine AFC titles and 17 division championships in 19 years. "But I hope when that's all over, we can do something that properly honors him and respects him for what he's done with us," Kraft said. Kraft alluded to that, saying complete closure for their relationship couldn't come "while he's still coaching." Including the playoffs, he ends his Patriots tenure with a 333-178 overall record.īelichick is expected to resume his pursuit of Shula's record elsewhere. It supplanted the 5-11 mark he managed in his last year in Cleveland in 1995 and again in his first year in New England in 2000. With 333 wins including the playoffs, Belichick trails only Shula (347) for the record for victories by a coach.īut the Patriots ended this season 4-13, Belichick's worst record in 29 seasons as an NFL head coach. I think we were the only ones who had those expectations, and I think it's safe to say we exceeded them."īelichick, 71, became just the third coach in NFL history to reach 300 career regular-season victories earlier this season, joining Hall of Famers Don Shula and George Halas. "Bill has taught me a lot over those years, and we had high expectations for what we could achieve together. "I'm very proud that our partnership lasted for 24 years," Kraft said. Kraft called the relationship a marriage that had required work and had come to an end. "I've been very, very fortunate to coach some of the greatest players to ever play the game." "Players win games in the NFL," Belichick said. He also thanked the fans for "the sendoffs, the parades, the Sundays." But most of his time was spent thanking the people throughout the organization, especially the more than 1,000 Patriots players he coached in his time here. The coach even smiled a couple of times - including when he conceded respect for the media "even though we don't always see eye to eye." Speaking to reporters from the podium where he had given so many terse, non-responsive postgame recaps, Belichick appeared in a jacket and tie and spoke first, followed by Kraft. So we have a responsibility to do what we can to fix it to the best of our ability," Kraft said. "What's gone on here the last three to four years isn't what we want. ![]() Stories in the sports world you should know about.Neither Belichick nor Kraft took questions, though Kraft said during an availability later in the day that the team missing the playoffs in three of the past four seasons factored into wanting to sever their relationship. ![]() And I look forward, excited for the future." But at this time, we're going to move on. "It's with so many fond memories and thoughts that I think about the Patriots," Belichick said on Thursday in a media availability with owner Robert Kraft. The six-time NFL champion agreed to part ways as the coach of the Patriots, ending his 24-year tenure as the architect of the most decorated dynasty of the league's Super Bowl era. He walks away feeling like it was a job well done. Bill Belichick had a vision of building the kind of sustained championship football team that had rarely been seen before in the NFL when he was hired by the New England Patriots. ![]()
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