DECEMBER 14: Adding to the notion a decision to move on from Belichick was made after the Colts loss, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated opines Kraft and Belichick have discussed their future and the manner in which they will part ways over the past several weeks. Breer’s latest appearance on the Rich Eisen Show also taps Mayo as the heir apparent to Belichick many have labeled him as for some time now (video link). As Breer notes, Mayo’s contract runs parallel to Belichick’s, so a transition from one to the other would not be complicated.
DECEMBER 13: Although the Patriots upset the Steelers in Week 14, the team still holds a 3-10 record. This has easily been Bill Belichick‘s worst season at the helm. The wildly successful HC looks no closer to convincing the Patriots to stay the course for 2024.
Long rumored to be coaching elsewhere next season, Belichick indeed appears to have four games left during his tenure as Patriots HC. Going as far back as the Week 10 loss to the Colts in Germany, NBC Sports Boston’s Tom Curran indicates (video link) ownership had made a decision it would part ways with Belichick at season’s end. Continuing on that road, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano notes a “strong likelihood” exists the Patriots and Belichick will split in 2024.
A recent report pointed to Robert Kraft seeking an amicable solution with Belichick, who has not been linked to retirement. But the owner made comments pointing to a playoff mandate this offseason. Kraft also responded that, after Belichick cited spending as an issue, he has not limited the HC/de facto GM when it comes to adding talent. This cold war of sorts looks almost certain to end soon, and the upcoming transaction has generated interest.
With Belichick under contract through at least 2024, he is positioned to carry trade value for the Patriots. Though, it is not known exactly how much. After one report last week pegged the 71-year-old HC’s value as enough to net New England a first-round pick, another suggested tepid interest would emerge on a market that is expected to be kind once again to younger, offensive-minded candidates.
Unless nothing else can be worked out, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler adds Kraft is unlikely to fire Belichick. But this does set the stage for one of the most interesting derbies for a coach in NFL history. Bruce Arians became the oldest HC ever hired; he was 66 when the Buccaneers acquired his rights from the Cardinals in 2019. Belichick will turn 72 next year. A team would be eyeing the legendary sideline presence for a shorter-term period, as he aims to break Don Shula‘s career wins record. While the Patriots obviously wanted that to happen in Foxborough, the 2023 team’s persistent struggles are set to make that next to impossible.
Belichick, who has won six Super Bowls as a head coach and two more as a coordinator (with the Giants), should not be expected to land with the Panthers, Fowler adds. Given David Tepper‘s imprint on that franchise since his 2018 purchase, he stands to have a difficult time attracting top-of-the-line candidates. But the Chargers have emerged as a prospective suitor. Some around the NFL are monitoring the Bolts as a Belichick fit, Fowler adds.
The Chargers are almost certain to fire Brandon Staley at the end of (or during?) his third season. Eleventh-year GM Tom Telesco joins Staley on the hot seat, though his ouster is not as certain. It took the Broncos first- and second-round picks (with a third-rounder coming back) to obtain Sean Payton‘s rights this year, and Belichick cost the Pats a first-rounder back in 2000. It only took a late-round pick swap for the Bucs to add Arians, but the Patriots will likely start conversations with a first-round choice. Belichick’s age complicates a trade, however.
It would be interesting to see if Belichick reveals a preference for a team behind the scenes, potentially pointing to the Pats accepting slightly lesser compensation to finalize a peaceful parting. If Belichick shows an interest in a team only to see it not offer what the Patriots are seeking in terms of draft compensation, that could put Kraft to a test. Kraft and Co. will also face a timeline, seeing as the coaching market will heat up in mid-January. Finding a solution during that timeframe will be paramount for the Pats, who will be on track to seek a traditional HC-GM setup, to form a new power structure. Jerod Mayo has been viewed as the top in-house successor option, but given the way the Belichick era is ending, will Kraft want to promote from within?
The Bolts have gone with two short-term coordinators as HCs, in Anthony Lynn and Staley, over their past two hires. While they have been linked to a similar move (in Lions two-year OC Ben Johnson), Belichick would represent quite the zag. On the other hand, pairing Justin Herbert with the modern game’s most successful HC would be an intriguing solution. Herbert’s presence will be a natural attraction for candidates, and Belichick would certainly represent star power for a franchise that has not found its footing in Los Angeles.
Please no
I don’t think there’s any chance we see BB on the sidelines unless it’s in NE.
he’s in the executive office chair phase
Why would anyone want to hire this over the hill out of touch guy? He succeeded because of Brady not his own coaching. Patriots would have to pay some team to take him and remaining contract.
Brady doesn’t go to 9 Super Bowls in New England and win 6 of them without BB. Neither does BB without Brady.
But, Brady does go to (and win) a Super Bowl without BB and BB does not without Brady. In fact, the Pats turn into garbage without TB. I think the debate as to who is most responsible for the Pats success is fairly obvious.
The Pats have reverted to the 1990 version of the Cleveland Browns without Brady…maybe worse.
Brady won in Tampa, but it was with a stellar D and a team that had an all-in approach. In BB’s defense, he was able to sustain a good D most of Brady’s tenure. They’re both responsible for the success.
They also had the best offense in the league that year and it was one of Brady’s best seasons. Their Super Bowl run wasn’t like Peyton’s in Denver- the defense on TB was good but that was a better offensive team.
Brady went to a team with a ton of talent that finished 7-9 the previous year with a QB that threw over 30 picks. Any QB going there that could protect the ball was turning them into a contender.
Ok
It’s not as easy as saying it was all Brady. I think it was much more cause of Brady but Payton won one title with Brees and McCarthy won one with Rodgers. All time great QB’s might get you a SB win but you’re not getting 6 without a great coach in the mix too. Bill had a lot to do with it but no one in the NFL can win with a useless QB, including Belichick and Mac Jones is a useless QB.
See perfect example. This guy hates the Patriots and BB so much he thinks that arguing BB did nothing is a good argument.
It is hilarious how much the Pats got under people’s skin and continues to do so even after Brady and BB are moving on.
So funny. Yeah BB had NOTHING to do with any success.
Question did Brady beat the Seahawks? Did Brady make that last interception. Damn Tom Brady is amazing, he can do EVERYTHING.
LOL so foolish. Keep up the hate, we New Englanders use it to keep us warm in the winter…
As a Patriots fan, he’s 71 and arguably the best coach of all time. He has nothing left to prove to anyone (GM work aside because those personnel moves in April are usually iffy). Just hang it up and go live life.
Vince Lombardi never had a losing season. Mike Tomlin has never had a losing season. Belichick is now guaranteed a third losing season in 4 years.
Pittsburgh hasn’t been relevant in years
If BB doesn’t cheat the way most people breathe, Pittsburgh might have 9 Lombardi’s right now.
But it’s ok when Tomlin tries to trip opposing players
Did you get equally upset when the Broncos were caught cheating? Just curious if its a personal thing or you really are against cheating…
No idea what you are talking about, but…probably.
See my takes on the Astros, Red Sox or even the Steroid Curtain.
Jacob, if they draft a Drake Maye etc., culturally, wouldn’t you want him to get 1 year under BB?
I agree tho, I don’t see BB coaching elsewhere next year. Thinking executive role if he leaves , or one final year in NE as the head coach.
(maybe get him to give up the GM duties tho)
Maybe if Bill was an offensive forward guy but he’s defense so it really doesn’t matter in my opinion
After seeing him handle young QBs the past two seasons, why would you want BB? He’s lost whatever touch he had.
Will he cede being the GM? Terrible at that.
Beyond terrible. My goodness
After seeing his handling of the QBs this year, he seems to be losing his coaching skills, too.
Surprised they’d move on from him without him doing it on his own volition. Can’t stand the guy and hate the team, but he is easily the best there’s been. The argument could be made it’s due to Brady, but BB has managed personnel well on the roster and on the sidelines, made the right injects, and has oddly done well drafting in the later rounds as opposed to the first round or two. His defensive knowledge is/was outstanding and proven outside of New England. And how he was able to pull juice out of vets that others thought wasn’t there was effectively consistent. And lastly, much of his staff only did well under his helm as opposed to their own.
I’m going to pushback on him having managed personnel well, because a lot of that can be attributed to Tom Brady taking below market deals. That gave the Patriots a unique ability to add talent.
I think everything you said about Bill, as a coach, is true. I’ve just never been sold on Bill as a GM.
Ehhh I see your point about Brady and his deals, but the Pats never really signed anybody to huge free agent deals. That’s part of the reason why, in Brady’s later years, he was frustrated with Belichick. The spending spree that the Pats initiated several years ago was unprecedented by their standards. Of course, that spree was conducted in a lower market for wideouts, which has been a huge concern for them since Brady’s last two years. It did net them Judon and Hunter Henry, who have been productive, and Kendrick Bourne, who has been decent, though not a number one.
For the most part, though, the Pats have not had marquee free agent success. A lot of their outside acquisitions that had a big impact were done on low level trades or signings (such as Wes Welker, Danny Ammendola, or Danny Woodhead). One thing that we must remember, though, is that Belichick did not do that do that on his own. Ernie Adams, Scott Pioli, and Nick Caserio were present before during much of that “chess not checkers” era. Now, and for the last handful of years, it’s just been Belichick. The acquisitions have suffered as a result (with a few notable successes, mostly on defense-Dugger, Barmore, lately Jennings). Those others, who have retired (or joined other teams, in Caserio’s case) never got replaced and were very good at their roles, Adams in particular.
BB is lucky that RK didn’t fire him at the bye week.
BB pulled out some recordings he had and massaged the situation. It really lowered the pressure…in the room.
A team employee accidentally filmed the meeting but a league investigation found no wrongdoing.
There are a handful of options for Belichick (Chargers, Raiders, Buccaneers,etc) that vary in likelihood, but I’m curious as to why the Saints have not been mentioned as a possibility.
The Oakland Raiders got f#&ked over by the Tuck Rule. Mark Davis will sell the Las Vegas Raiders before they ever hire Belichick.
Or before they hire a longtime Patriot staffer or make Brady an owner, right?
I just don’t see BB taking any HC job unless its in NE.
I’m thinking big exec position in lovely Carolina.
Because he’s going to Washington.
Naaaaaah
Makes sense. BB grew up in Maryland and spent time with his father coaching Navy. He’d be a good fit for Los Angeles, but can’t see him living there.
He’s had hell of a career. Why not just retire
So he can break Shula’s record, as the article mentions. Maybe try reading the article before you post a comment?
Has he openly said that though?
Calm down there turbo it’s just a comment
Fr haha
he needs like 27 more wins to pass Shula, and is gonna coach an absolute maximum of 2 more seasons.
just not gonna happen.
Bills has a lot of records, but that one’s just not viable anymore.
As soon as he’s gone this becomes the pre-Parcells patriots. Let the guy break the record in New England ffs
I would like to see him lose all of his remaining games to break the all time loss record.
You just hate to see it.
I mean, Im loving it, but someone out there hates it.
As a chargers fan
Every team in the league is garbage without a quarterback. The Bucs are garbage without Brady. Bill has no qb. By his own doing.
I’m ok with the following stipulations.
He cannot by no means be in charge of draft picks or any personnel decisions
He cannot bring in Bill O’Brian in as the OC
The Buccaneers are still in the hunt going into Week 15. New England was eliminated from contention in Week 14.
Baker is also 50x better than Mac Jones and plays in the worst division in football
The Chargers are cheap & will not pay BB $$. This article is irrelevant!
The ego that is BB will never give away that power.
BB and Tomlin were dealt the same hand…
Aging rosters whose success has caught up with them led by rookie QB’s who appear to be busts.
Tomiln is over .500 and BB is in contention for the first pick.
Tomlin, who have never had a losing season, is succeeding with the same set of circumstances that BB (the “greatest” coach of all time) is failing under, but…won’t someone spare Steeler fans from this “mediocrity”. They “deserve” so much better…they say.
OK.
Tomlin has been in Pit for 15 some years and over 20 years for Bill. They made their hands, not dealt them. Bill has 100% complete control of the roster, & we all know Mike has plenty of power when it comes to FA and drafting. Might not be 100% but he has sway throughout the organization.
Still love the hatred that the Patriots and BB incite in people. Its probably the best thing about Brady and BB’s Patriots. Every year they were fighting for Super Bowls and the haters come out. Like ANYONE in New England cares…LOL.
Some of the arguments here are similar to the Phil Jackson cannot win without Kobe and Jordan….yeah genius DUH!!!
Brady is arguably the greatest football player in NFL history, OF COURSE BB needed him to win. LOL such a foolish argument. What a waste of time.
BB will go into the Hall, as will Brady. In a decade NOBODY but the Haters will care about whether either could win without the other. Haters will die off and then nobody will give a blank about this foolish argument.
I still like the idea that BB will coach Navy. I have not seen BB this animated in years. Navy makes him happy, if that is actually possible.
I dunno, I think the best thing has been guys acting like THEY THEMSELVES achieved something by sitting on their couch watching the football version of George Santos in between trips to Market Basket and making racist death threats online.
Is going to Navy a rumor? That would be interesting. I know his father was a long time coach there.
BB has enough money, he could certainly afford to do it
This continues to prove true.
All coaches and managers are only as good as the players they have. No magic dust here.
Bill is the GM.
and he coached the players he personally selected very poorly this year. What makes fans think he’d do better with their team?
Exactly!
Sounds like BB would only want to coach a winning team to break a record. If he wanted a rebuild he would stick with the Pats.
Either way he is a tough hire based on his new tenure would be 2 years at best.
Just like any player – wait for the Patriots to fire him and save a draft pick.
Chargers will give up a first for him.
More Fake news and the amount of comments already is head shaking.
Damn Big Bill can be let go no problems but don’t come on here talkin bout Tomlin getting fired
The Tomlin cult goes harder than the damn Trump cult.
Mayo? I would bring back Raymond Berry, he is still with us!!!
I believe the always reliable Weekly World News reports that there is a secret government project scheduled for Area 51 (financed by the NFL) to clone Belichick 31 times, so each team can have their own version.