After 24 years multiple reports the Bill Belichick era in New England is over and he became the most successful head football in NFL history. Belichick’s six Super Bowl titles in New England are the most ever by an NFL head coach and his 333 wins (regular and postseason) are the second-most behind Don Shula’s 347 victories.
Could he be headed to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? We will get to that point later in this story…
Belichick has come under fire from the Kraft family have seen the franchise fall from grace since Tom Brady left the Patriots to win a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Since Brady headed South from New England the Patriots have an unimpressive 29-38 record capped off with the 2023 season that saw them go a dismal 4-13 and that was too much for the Kraft family to take.
The first to report the story ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Mike Reiss, revealed “There was said to be no conflict, no disagreement,” per the ESPN report. “In the end, productive talks resulted in a mutual decision that left both sides comfortable and at ease.”
According to ESPN both Belichick and Kraft, as one outside party noted, “took the high road,” which was fitting for an owner-coach tandem that will go down as one of the greatest and most decorated in NFL history.
Belichick, who had one year remaining on his contract, will be allowed to leave the team without the Patriots seeking compensation. He will want to continue coaching and is expected to draw interest from at least some of the other seven NFL teams that have head-coaching vacancies, quite possibly the Atlanta Falcons, league sources said.
Despite the Falcons interest, there are the Buccaneers, the LA Chargers, Washington, Dallas, and Seattle, all in the just want to talk to Belichick stage. The Bucs GM Jason Licht, who got his first executive job with the Patriots back in 2002 has a wonderful relationship with his former head coach.
One reason he might not come to Tampa Bay is it might look like he is coming to erase the Brady legacy with the Buccaneers. But the Glazer loves big-name coaches and Belichick is a perfect fit for the ownership group.
We will see how this new free agent coach lands.