The Patriots’ three remaining games are expected to double as the final three contests of the Bill Belichick era in New England. Robert Kraft is believed to have made a decision to move on from the legendary HC. The process may soon become complicated.
With the Patriots holding Belichick’s rights through 2024, via the contract extension he agreed to earlier this year, they will hope to trade the 24-year HC and pick up an asset. Should the Pats travel down that road, the timeline could become an issue for both the team and Belichick.
As it stands now, however, Belichick is not seeking a divorce. The six-time Super Bowl-winning HC wants to stay in New England, according to the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin. Belichick-Kraft tension has simmered for years, dating back to the end of the Tom Brady era, and it would not exactly be surprising to see the parties’ working relationship end badly.
Belichick, 71, does not intend to resign, Volin adds, which will put some pressure on Kraft to find a trade partner. Kraft’s attempt at an amicable solution could drag well into the offseason, which would hamstring Belichick. If the process stalls, teams will move to other candidates during the frenzied winter hiring period. Each of the five teams seeking HCs this year had hires in place a day after Super Bowl LVII. The Patriots not finding a taker early also would limit their search for a Belichick replacement, though potential heir apparent Jerod Mayo‘s presence provides some protection for the team.
Going into the season, the Pats had hoped Belichick would return in 2024 before a potential baton pass to Mayo could take place. The Pats’ struggles look to have changed the plan, and a Belichick exit has been assumed for weeks. That said, the moving parts here could potentially force Kraft to fire Belichick in what would likely be labeled as a mutual parting. That would give the storied sideline presence free rein to pursue another job, and Volin reiterates the NFL’s second-winningest coach does not intend to retire after this season.
The Patriots have hit a wall with Belichick in place as their HC and de facto GM. While the historically successful defensive tactician has propped up the Patriots on that side of the ball, despite Matt Judon and Christian Gonzalez‘s early-season injuries, New England’s offense is once again wallowing near the NFL’s basement. The team benched Mac Jones for 2022 fourth-rounder Bailey Zappe, whose camp struggles had led to him being waived in August. The Pats’ JuJu Smith-Schuster signing has not produced much of consequence, with the team outfitting Jones and Zappe with a bottom-tier skill-position corps. If Belichick is to stay, there would likely be changes to the team’s power structure — one that has lost key personnel bastions Nick Caserio and Dave Ziegler over the past three years. Would Kraft sign off on another Belichick-run offseason?
It will be interesting to see if Kraft would be amenable to Belichick staying and becoming the rare lame-duck coach, as his contract is believed to expire after the 2024 season. The deal, per Volin, is believed to be worth at least $25MM, which is at or near the top of the HC ranks. No trade coming to pass would leave the Pats on the hook for that payout, though offset language from a Belichick contract elsewhere would help New England here. Kraft effectively issued a playoff mandate this offseason. For Belichick to fall well short of that goal and be retained would surprise, especially given the rumors that have emerged this season.
While a first-rounder was floated as possible Belichick compensation, Volin classifies that as highly unlikely. In addition to Belichick not wanting his new team to send the Patriots a valuable asset for his services, he is coming off back-to-back unremarkable years and is much older than anyone who has ever been hired as a head coach throughout NFL history. The Buccaneers made Bruce Arians the oldest HC hired; he was 66 at the time. Belichick will turn 72 in April.
Belichick’s extensive past with personnel power might also interfere with a team’s plans; that arrangement, should he still want such control, may be an issue for the Chargers. The Commanders are also not expected to hand over full control to their next HC, Albert Breer of SI.com notes. Ron Rivera and Martin Mayhew are expected to be fired at season’s end, and while Washington has not employed a particularly successful coach since Joe Gibbs‘ second stint, new owner Josh Harris is not planning to appeal to Belichick by offering full personnel control.
The easiest way for the Patriots to close this chapter would be a mutual parting (firing) at season’s end. If no suitable trade offer for Belichick emerges, that may be where this ends. For now, the Kraft-Belichick era persists. How much longer will it last?
I won’t be surprised if Kraft puzzys and cheaps out and keeps BB next year hopefully he doesn’t or at the minimum take some control back with a GM and less draft imput
Cheaps out? If he keeps him, he owes him $25 million! How’s that cheaping out?
I wonder if Belichick’s contract is guaranteed. I guess it could be cheaping out if he doesn’t want to pay another coach and BB gets his money regardless. I think it’s a stupid take though. Patriots would make way more money if they actually turn around their team.
Coaches contracts are fully guaranteed. The players on the other hand that are constantly in danger are not. Talk about a bad players union.
Coach’s salaries are not included in the salary cap. If they were, life would get very interesting.
Cheap out yes think about it if u fire BB then you have to pay for. New coach, GM, a whole coaching staff then the players no coach is going to be able to get players to sign contracts on the cheap like he does
+ still paying BB that 25m he contract runs through the end of next season
Kraft does love going cheap like those hand tugs in strip malls. Anyone who dislikes the patriots has been enjoying the demise of the “genius” and this franchise for a long time. You had your dynasty not happening again folks. Get used to Kraft Mac Jones n cheese
Just fire this old loser.
@fffbbb More rings than you have fingers. “Suggest that Mr Belichick retire to a front office position” would be more appropriate. If he’s on board, Belichick could probably help find a new head coach (none of his assistants who are not suited as head coaches) as he’s gone up against almost all of the current coordinators in the NFL.
Media has no idea and is throwing all possible outcomes on the board so they can take credit for being right. Belichick isn’t far off in how the media deserves to be treated.
Sure, there are some bad eggs out there in the media. I disagree with what you’re saying as a blanket statement though. Often it’s their job to speculate, and I’m sure they get what information they can from sources. There has never (to my knowledge) been an NFL franchise that’s spoken openly about the status of a head coach, for good reason. Short of that ever happening, the media can only report on what they believe and hear.
Bill has been linked to Carolina, Bears, DC, & Pats. Not much about the Vegas opening though. Your point is valid! But that’s why we love it, the speculation. Like mock drafts.
Strategically tank for a top QB; making 2024 the Do or Die SZN
lol
Would it really be that bad if Belichick stayed? Kraft may not want to fire him, but he can certainly make changes in his organization. He pays the bills (two of them), after all. Kraft could hire a GM-today, in fact, if he wanted to-and let Bill play out his final year under the auspices of a new boss.
That GM will make picks or figure out where he wants to improve. Then, when Belichick is finished, you have a platform from which to build. Of course, Belichick’s contract may stipulate that he has final roster say, but I’m unsure of how ironclad that could be. In any case, Kraft still has the ability to make additions to either help Belichick draft the proper talent, or to make him so miserable that he doesn’t want to stay anymore. I mostly kid on the second count, but it could be a way to force Belichick out “voluntarily”. Belichick is doing a great job with that defense, despite the wave of injuries, and has drafted mostly well on that side of the ball. If the Pats’ offense-especially the line-could give them at least average production, their record would be much different.
The rest of the AFC East would love to have Belichick stay…
Really ignorant comment considering he is 2-2 in the AFC east despite this crap roster.
LOL! He created that crap roster. Bill the GM is undermining Bill the coach, and just because his teams do well in the division doesn’t mean he’s keeping the others down considering all the other losses.
Frankly, the team overall plays a lot sloppier now than it did during its prime. Penalties, turnovers, lateral passes etc. Bill needs to hang them up. This is what I mean.
link to youtube.com
You know I hope he does. We can see what year 5 of his rebuild looks like. Not going swell so far!
I’m curious how long you think it takes to turn around a team after 20 years of having the 30th or later pick.
2 years top. Every team churns over 15-20% of their roster each year. Texans and Colts are fighting for the AFC South with a rookie QB & a Backup. Both were predicted to draft in the top 10, Texans top 1-3. Not happening.
Bill can’t draft worth a hoot and it shows on the field for the past 4 years. Everyone says Tom left because Tampa had a stocked roster. I agree, but why was Tampa’s roster so superior to Bill’s? I never get an answer to that question.
One more question. If they were successful drafting around the 30th pick or later, then why were they great for 20 years straight but aren’t now drafting in the top 15 in all rounds the past 4 years?
It was all Tom. Yes, Bill can call a great defense, but terrible on offense and as a GM. Don’t forget his 4 out of 5 years of losing in Cleveland. It’ll be 4 out of 5 losing seasons after Tom wherever he coaches next year.
I’m with Arty. Two years tops with a good GM. Look at the Bills. They had years of mid-level picks, always finishing too high to get top draft choices. Beane broke that cycle the first year in by parlaying picks and bringing in solid free agents without getting a high draft pick. He traded up for a few using future-year picks.
Look at the Rams: now 8-7 after losing some solid players to injury last year-if they win out they will be 10-7 and in the playoffs. Of all the teams against the 49 ers they seem to have their number. Could be another SB run? Let BB go and see how someone new runs things.
So you’re saying that every single team should be competitive every 2 years? That’s not how it works. And you yourself just stated that the Bills went years…not 2.
Or do you think there are only 2 or 3 “good GMs”?
The crux of this conversation is that BB is a horrible GM and has not won a thing without Brady. Let’s hope he stays around the AFC a few more years destroying the playoff chances of his teams.
BB doesn’t want to get traded because that would make his new team lose out on whatever they came up with as compensation.
Very fair observation that hasn’t been brought up yet. The need for compensation would make one say, “Well, it’d have to be a team that doesn’t the pick to be competitive,” which would point to the Chargers. However, unless Belichick has a no trade clause or some similar language, he may not have a choice in the matter.
I don’t expect New England to fetch a 1st round choice for him if they trade him. I know he has the accolades, but how many years would the acquiring team realistically have him for? It’s really difficult to imagine him coaching for more than another 2 or 3 years, so I’m not sure how much the compensation hurts. Aaron Rodgers, who, to me, is more valuable than a coach, essentially netted the Packers two seconds. Maybe Bill goes for a 2nd and a conditional 3rd?
I’d love for Bill to go to the Chargers and win a championship. They’re only missing a coach, like the Bucs were only missing a QB.
Belichick doesn’t need a no trade clause. No team is trading for him if he doesn’t want to coach for that particular team. Belichick holds all the cards here. The worst case scenario is that he gets paid $25 million to coach/GM another season for Patriots.
I love how fast people are to call this coaching LEGEND a loser? Really? This man has EIGHT rings! He belongs on the Rushmore of coaches with Lombardi, Landry, Gibbs, etc. I have no dog in the fight here being a Lions fan, but it’s absolutely amazing how folks with a straight face can call this coach anything but a straight up legend. Keep drinking the Harterade my peeps!
I just love the hate toward BB and the Pats. It cracks me up. Like anyone in NE cares.
They dont.
Oh, they do care. Bostonians are very sensitive when you call out their teams.
Remove Brady from the Patriots and Belichick has a career record under .500. Those who worship at the altar of the Foxboro Cheatriots don’t get it.
Speaking of whom, didya notice they were using underinflated footballs (AGAIN!) in the Kansas City game?
Didya notice that the Pats were the ones who reported it?And the officials are in charge of checking air pressure ? Typical Jets fan just make things up as you go
Or he was a bum in Cleveland, got lucky with a 6th round pick and cheated his way to the top.
I hope he gets traded to the jet planes and quits after a few days.
Belichick holds all the cards here. No team is trading for him if he doesn’t want to coach for that particular team. Kraft can have him coach/GM the Patriots one more season or fire him and pay him $25 million to coach/GM another team.
Heard the Tepper guy is looking for a coach
Not sure if he wants a coach or a waterboy.
Guy should not own a nfl team……there should be better vetting for ownership than just having money. An owner should actually understand dynamics for ‘building’ a football team that might win some games.
Bill should go to Carolina, hear me out before you say it’s a dumb idea. Bill has been terrible as of late and the Panthers suck, so if you combine the two neither one can technically get worse, so therefore theoretically they should have a chance to get better. Bill would get to continue his slow climb to the record books, and Tepper can feel good knowing he gets to fire the most winningest coach of all time within the next 2 years.
This just in: Bill Belichick is leaving the Patriots to join the PFR staff and monitor the comment section. Keep your heads down!
Just fire him and move on. Kraft should just say he’s gone and we’re on to 2024.
What an A-hole that Kraft is..
For Robert Kraft’s sake, I just hope this saga has a happy ending.
Oh, crud. Not Mayo. That would make things even worse.
I hope Bill stays in NE, it’s where he cemented his legacy. Maybe with the 2nd overall pick in the 24 draft he’ll finally hit on QB or another Guard
Another pathetic opinion piece from another writer who is grasping at straws…and more sheeps believing this garbage thinking its facts.