A whirlwind coaching cycle kicked up another notch Thursday when the New England Patriots announced head coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft agreed to a mutual parting of ways. The decision ends a partnership that sparked the most successful run in NFL history, one both Belichick and Kraft reflected on fondly when they spoke to media members following the official announcement.
Bill Belichick: “I’ll Always Be A Patriot”
Neither Belichick nor Kraft took any questions at Belichick’s farewell press conference on Thursday, as the pair instead delivered statements to members of the media looking back on their many successes through the years and their mutual agreement to now part ways.
Kraft did answer questions from the media a couple of hours later at a solo press conference.
Their partnership began all the way back in 2000, when Kraft hired Belichick to be the franchise’s head coach.
It initially could have begun sooner, however, as Belichick was evidently among the candidates to replace Bill Parcells as the team’s leader after the 1996 season, in which Parcells led New England to a Super Bowl appearance with Belichick as an assistant coach.
Kraft mentioned his regret of not hiring Belichick that first time around as key in eventually bringing Belichick on in 2000 after a one-day stint as New York Jets head coach.
“I trusted my instincts to bring Bill back to New England in 2000 after immediately regretting not hiring him after working with him together in 1996,” Kraft said.
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The pair ultimately teamed up for a prosperous 24 years, a fact Kraft takes great pride in and mentioned as much at the press conference.
Under Kraft and Belichick’s leadership, New England posted an overall record of 296-133 between the regular season and playoffs. The franchise made it to the Super Bowl nine times in that span and won six of them, more than exceeding the pair’s high expectations when they initially partnered.
“We had a vision of building a winner, building a championship football team here,” Belichick said. “It’s exceeded my wildest dreams and expectations, the amount of success we were able to achieve together through a lot of hard work and the contributions of so many people. I’m very proud of that, and I’ll always have those great memories; I’ll carry those with me the rest of my life.”
One of the players who was instrumental in the great run of success is quarterback Tom Brady, who led the Patriots to all six of their titles. Brady expressed his gratitude for Belichick and what the pair accomplished in New England with a post to his Instagram account.
“I’m incredibly grateful to have played for the best coach in NFL history,” Brady said in the post. “He was a great leader for the organization and for all the players who played for him. We accomplished some amazing things over a long period of time, many of which will be hard to replicate. He worked every day to help us achieve the ultimate goal in the ultimate team sport.
“And, although we were successful, some of the greatest lessons I learned were in the moments where we faced the most challenging adversities. He set the tone for the organization, to never falter in the face of adversity and to do what we could do, and what was in our control, which was to go out and DO OUR JOB.
“I could never have been the player I was without you coach Belichick. I am forever grateful. And I wish you the best of luck in whatever you choose next.”
Belichick expressed his gratitude to Kraft, all of his assistant coaches, the many players he led throughout the years, and the fans for all the parts each of those groups played in the team’s successes. He showed a bit more emotion than is typical as well and referenced coming back to New England in the future.
“I’ll always be a Patriot,” Belichick said. “I look forward to coming back here, but at this time we’re going to move on. I look forward and I’m excited for the future, but I’ll always be very appreciative of the opportunity here, the support here, and Robert, what you’ve done for me. Thank you.”
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Belichick does not appear set to end his time coaching just yet, as reports indicate he will pursue other coaching opportunities at the NFL level. Several teams have openings at head coach this season, and at least a few seem likely to be interested in Belichick’s services despite his struggles over the last few years with the Patriots.
Kraft, for his part, said the team plans to honor Belichick more completely at a later time once Belichick’s coaching career is at its end.
“I think it’s awkward, while he’s still coaching, to bring closure,” Kraft said. “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. Everything in life is the proper timing, so we’re going to have to wait for that.”
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