Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots’ coach, is departing the franchise after six Super Bowl rings.
The 71-year-old paired up with quarterback Tom Brady to bring unprecedented success to the franchise, which had never won a championship before moving to Foxborough.
Bill Belichick “amicably” stepped down as New England Patriots coach on Thursday, bringing an end to a decades-long reign that included an unparalleled six Super Bowl titles.
The 71-year-old, who collaborated with quarterback Tom Brady to create one of the longest winning streaks in NFL history, and Patriots owner Robert Kraft made the announcement during a press conference at Gillette Stadium.
Kraft stated that he and Belichick spoke on Wednesday and “mutually agreed to part ways amicably.”
“I’m very proud that our partnership has lasted 24 years,” Kraft remarked, standing beside his now-former head coach. “It signifies the end of an era, which hopefully will always be remembered in our region. The individual standing to my left provided the necessary leadership and coaching abilities to enable us to achieve such remarkable accomplishment.”
Kraft stated that he and Belichick spoke on Wednesday and “mutually agreed to part ways amicably.”
“I’m very proud that our partnership has lasted 24 years,” Kraft remarked, standing beside his now-former head coach. “It signifies the end of an era, which hopefully will always be remembered in our region. The individual standing to my left provided the necessary leadership and coaching abilities to enable us to achieve such remarkable accomplishment.”
“Of course, many gratitude and appreciation to the players. Players win games in the NFL, and I’ve been extremely blessed to coach some of the greatest players.”
Belichick casually remarked that he may not have been the finest boss and coworker at times.
“They (support staff) made my life a lot easier or I made their lives a lot harder, however you want to look at it,” he went on to say.
Both guys exited the news conference after making the announcement and not taking questions. But two hours later, Kraft returned to the podium and provided further information about the move.
Belichick served as de facto general manager in addition to coach, overseeing practically every football-related decision.
According to Kraft, the two discussed reducing some of Belichick’s responsibilities, but the owner eventually felt that such a move would have resulted in negative second guessing.
“It’s going to set up confusion and, ‘well it was his (draft) pick and that was a bad pick’ or ‘he didn’t play him right,'” Kraft told reporters at the second meeting. “It wouldn’t work in my opinion.”
During the second briefing, a reporter asked Kraft whether Belichick had opposed leaving and if the coach “fought for his job.”
Kraft stopped and did not explicitly respond.
“It’s something that, it was best we each moved on and I think that’s what the last three or four days of taking the time to figure it out allowed us to do,” Kraft said in an interview.
When Belichick praised Patriots supporters for their support over this extended run, he looked to display some emotion, despite his reputation for being silent.
“Fans here are amazing,” Belichick added. “So many memories of the fans, the send-offs, the parades, the Sundays, whatever the situations are, the letters of support, seeing the fans away from here at a gas station or a grocery store wherever you bump into them.”
Belichick and Kraft both intimated that the longstanding Patriots leader will be back on another sideline soon.
“It’ll be difficult to see him in a cutoff hoodie on the sideline (of another team), but I will always continue to wish him continued success, except when he’s playing our beloved Patriots,” Kraft said of Belichick and the coach’s well-known, eccentric wardrobe choices.
Belichick stated he is “excited for the future.”
“I’ll always be a patriot,” he declared. “I look forward to returning here. But for the time being, we’ll move on, and I’m looking forward to and thrilled about the future.
