New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is going through the most difficult period of his tenure. Nevertheless, he’s being compensated very well for it.
Despite Belichick statistically having the worst season since he joined the Patriots in 2000, he’s still the highest-paid head coach in the NFL.
Bill Belichick’s Contract
There is a lot of uncertainty about Belichick’s contract as the details of head coaches’ salaries are not as widely reported. However, it is estimated that Belichick earns $20 million per year.
Belichick’s salary makes him the highest-paid head coach in the NFL. The second highest-paid head coach is Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos.
NFL Network insider, Ian Rapoport shared that “His contract [is] one of the most closely held secrets in New England.”
Rapoport also reported that Belichick had signed a new two-year contract during the 2023 offseason, keeping him in New England through the 2024 season.
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The $20 million figure is based on Belichick’s salary in 2022, and the lucrative deal could see Belichick earn an even higher salary in 2023.
Going further, Rapoport explained that the contract was a new contract and not an extension. That detail is important because it means should the Patriots owner, Robert Kraft, want to move on from Belichick after the 2023 season, then the head coach would only be owed compensation for the remaining year of his contract.
Could the New England Patriots Move on From Belichick?
Over the past 23 seasons in New England, Belichick has earned the right to be the highest-paid head coach, but many are now questioning his future. The Patriots have not only been bad in 2023, they have also suffered some embarrassing losses.
There has been plenty of speculation on the future of Belichick. Since Tom Brady left New England in 2019, the Patriots haven’t looked the same. With questionable personnel decisions, both on the field and on Belichick’s staff, New England has struggled to get things right.
They are now staring down a top-two draft pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, with many considering whether this would be the right time for the Patriots to move on from Belichick.
With the legacy that Belichick has built in New England, it won’t be an easy decision. And, for Belichick, he will likely want to continue in the NFL as he attempts to become the winningest head coach in NFL history.
Belichick sits second on the NFL head coach’s all-time wins list with 331. He is 16 wins behind Don Shula at the top of the list.
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