Robert Kraft

Latest On Patriots Front Office Hierarchy, Draft Plans

Since moving on from Bill Belichick, the Patriots have been operating without an official GM. Eliot Wolf reportedly has final say over personnel decisions, leading many to assume that the director of scouting was New England’s de facto general manager.

As Doug Kyed and Andrew Callahan of the Boston Herald pass along, Wolf will retain his current title until after the draft, at which time owner Robert Kraft will consider a potential promotion. The owner has reportedly “received positive feedback” on Wolf, making the executive the favorite to land the top front office job.

“I’m excited with what I’ve seen so far, and we’ll evaluate after the draft and see how that’s gone and decide where we go from there,” Kraft said (via the Herald).

The son of Hall of Fame executive Ron Wolf, Eliot Wolf spent more than a decade in Green Bay’s front office to begin his career. He joined the Patriots in 2020 and quickly earned a promotion to his current gig. Once the Patriots/Belichick divorce was official, Wolf participated in head coaching interviews before helping Jerod Mayo fill out his staff.

As Kyed and Callahan note, the Patriots have never had an official “general manager” since Kraft took over ownership of the organization. That was partly due to Belichick’s control over the roster, although the Patriots did employ high-ranking officials like “vice president of player personnel” and “director of player personnel.” Kraft may follow a similar route this time around, although there’s not a better time to pivot to the more traditional front office hierarchy in a post-Belichick era.

Before the organization figures out official roles for the front office, the Patriots will be focused on the draft…particularly their third-overall pick. There have been conflicting reports about the selection’s availability via trade, but it’s generally believed that New England will consider offers for the pick.

If the team does make a trade, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe says the team is still likely to select a quarterback in the draft. Moving back would surely take the Patriots out of range for a top-tier QB, but the team would still have plenty of opportunities to select someone at the position (including at their No. 34 pick).

Speaking of the top-tier quarterbacks, there were some rumblings that the Patriots weren’t enamored with UNC’s Drake Maye. However, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports that the Patriots will attend the prospect’s pro day tomorrow, and Mayo all but confirmed the team’s interest in Maye while speaking with reporters the other day.

“Drake Maye had a fantastic interview at the combine. He brings a lot of energy. You can tell he has that leadership ability,” Mayo said (via Reiss). “Also the exciting part about a guy like Drake Maye, there is really no ceiling with a guy like that. In saying that, when we’re trying to put together this roster, I know a lot of people look at the ceiling. But you also have to look at how low is the floor. I would say a guy like Drake Maye – he has a lot of room to grow. He’s a young guy. Honestly, he hasn’t played football nearly as much as these other guys. So that’s definitely something we’ve looked at, but he’s definitely going to develop.”

The Patriots have already brought in Jacoby Brissett to keep the QB seat warm, so New England is clearly intent on bringing a rookie QB along slowly. That much is known…it remains to be seen which rookie QB (and which rookie QB tier) the organization will ultimately land on.

Bill Belichick Fallout: Falcons, GM Power, Morris, Eagles, Cowboys, Patriots, QBs, Kraft

This coaching carousel’s music has stopped with Bill Belichick and Mike Vrabel on the outside looking in. While Vrabel’s prospects of returning to the league figure to remain strong, Belichick’s age — and the developments during this year’s hiring period — inject uncertainty into his prospects of landing another NFL HC job.

No coach in Belichick’s age range has landed a job, with Bruce Arians (66) being the oldest HC hire. Belichick’s age (72 in April) was naturally a factor for the Falcons, who interviewed him twice. But a degree of territory protecting appears to have transpired as well.

Arthur Blank indeed wanted to hire Belichick this year, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes, adding that some around the longtime Falcons owner swayed him. Belichick loomed as the early favorite, but after the team expanded its search (including Vrabel and Jim Harbaugh) following his second interview, it signaled a different candidate would be hired. The Falcons hired Raheem Morris, whom ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter notes has a five-year contract.

Morris remained popular with Falcons players, though the bulk of the cogs from his season as interim coach are gone. Had Belichick been hired by the Falcons, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes an organizational “groundshake” — on both the football and business sides — would have taken place. Staffers being concerned about losing their jobs or seeing their roles change dramatically is understandable, and this appears to be a key part of why Belichick is not currently assembling a staff in Atlanta.

Blank and Falcons CEO Rich McKay ran the team’s coaching search, with a team announcement indicating GM Terry Fontenot would provide input. This would suggest a vulnerability regarding the fourth-year GM’s status, but McKay assured following the Arthur Smith firing that was not the case. The Morris hire effectively keeps Fontenot in good standing, and although the Falcons have said the GM will now report to ownership — with McKay being kicked to the business side — The Athletic’s Jeff Howe indicates the latter does not have a good relationship with Belichick (subscription required).

A Belichick arrival would have undoubtedly meant a reduced Fontenot and potentially affected McKay’s, though given the latter’s 21-year tenure with the Falcons, Blank should not have been expected to dismiss his former GM to appease Belichick. Blank remains loyal to McKay, per Yahoo.com’s Charles Robinson, who adds McKay’s longstanding relationship with Morris — whom he hired as a quality control assistant in Tampa during his run as Buccaneers GM — played a role in the Rams DC being hired.

Although a coach with Belichick’s credentials being shut out during this year’s cycle points to front office staffers being concerned about job security, it is also believed certain demands from the six-time Super Bowl-winning HC were set to ensue. Belichick and Blank are not believed to have discussed who would hold final say on personnel matters, but Robinson adds the coaching icon believed had he taken the job the Atlanta football ops would need to run through him. Shortly before the Belichick-Patriots separation, the 24-year New England HC expressed a willingness to relinquish some authority to stay. It does not appear that entailed a true commitment to change.

Had Robert Kraft believed Belichick would have been more open to changes — from his front office to philosophy to roster construction — Howe adds the owner would have been more inclined to keep him onboard for the 2024 season. Belichick’s Patriots contract ran through 2024, but Kraft followed through with a long-rumored plan to move on. The contract he authorized for Jerod Mayo in 2023 led to the assistant being quickly promoted.

The post-Tom Brady years in New England have also played an obvious role in Belichick’s extended status as a coaching free agent. Belichick’s handling of his quarterback position following Brady’s 2020 exit has also impacted teams’ view of him, Howe adds, with Mac Jones‘ swoon serving as the crux of this concern. Belichick crafted a bizarre plan to shift Matt Patricia to the offensive side, where he called plays in 2022.

This season brought a significant downturn for Jones, who finished behind only Ja’Marr Chase in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. Jones’ regression continued, under a third OC in three years (Bill O’Brien), and his NFL future is suddenly cloudy. Belichick demoted Jones to his third-string quarterback in Week 18, with ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss indicating poor scout-team work leading up to that contest prompted the departing HC to make that move. This marked the final chapter in a steadily deteriorating relationship between Belichick and the passer he chose 15th overall three years ago.

Belichick’s comments regarding Jones — before his 2023 freefall — have also confused some execs around the league, Howe adds. Had Belichick kept his Patriots job, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano offers that he would have been expected to target a veteran quarterback this offseason. Belichick’s only Patriot-years season with a veteran option featured Cam Newton in 2020; the diminished MVP became a one-and-done in New England. Newton’s limitations in 2020 led to the Jones investment. It will now be on Mayo, and however the Patriots go about restructuring their front office, to solve this latest QB problem.

Belichick the coach continued to churn out stingy defenses, even without key pieces this season, but his GM work left the Patriots with one of the NFL’s worst rosters. Belichick’s personnel acumen previously equipped the Brady-led teams with a number of undervalued gems, aiding the Super Bowl runs. But the near-50-year NFL staffer’s standing has undeniably fallen. Only the Falcons and Commanders are believed to have spoken with Belichick about their HC jobs.

The Eagles and Cowboys, however, may be teams to monitor for the 2025 cycle — one that could conceivably be Belichick’s last chance to land another HC job. Both teams considered Belichick last month, but each NFC East power retained its embattled coach.

The Eagles retained Nick Sirianni, but had the Super Bowl HC not agreed to certain demands regarding his coordinators, the Boston Sports Journal’s Greg Bedard indicated during an appearance on 98.5’s Felger and Mazz (h/t Bleacher Report) a Belichick-to-Philly path is believed to have been viable for 2024. The Eagles likely joined the Falcons in making backchannel contact pertaining to a potential Belichick pursuit, Bedard notes. Unlike Doug Pederson in 2021, Sirianni did fire coordinators. It is safe to place Sirianni, his 3-for-3 rate at leading the Eagles to the playoffs, on a hot seat.

Bedard noted the Eagles were “very interested” in Belichick, pointing to this connection remaining a storyline should Sirianni struggle to reassert himself this season. The Eagles would almost definitely not hand final personnel say to Belichick, given Howie Roseman‘s track record (the 2015 Chip Kelly-driven demotion notwithstanding). That would make this fit interesting, but were Belichick to spend his first season away from the NFL since 1974, it stands to reason he would go into the 2025 hiring period with reduced requests regarding the personnel side.

Jerry Jones also made headlines by saying he could work with Belichick, saying (via Yahoo’s Jori Epstein) there is “no doubt” he could coexist with the towering sideline presence. Jones openly saying he’d be fine with another (more accomplished) coach than is own is telling, but Mike McCarthy remains in place for a fifth season. The Cowboys are not extending McCarthy’s contract, making him the rare lame-duck HC in the modern NFL. This will naturally keep Belichick on the Dallas radar. How Belichick would navigate a setup in which ownership runs the personnel would be interesting, though Jones did cede more power to Belichick mentor Bill Parcells during the latter’s four-year stay in the 2000s.

As for this season, Jonathan Jones points to Belichick taking a TV job as the most likely 2024 path. The 29-year HC veteran was planning to be selective about a third HC destination, with Jones adding the goal will remain for personnel power to be involved in a 2025 pursuit. The clock is ticking on that front, with only four coaches in NFL history coaching a game beyond age 71.

Although Belichick’s football knowledge will obviously far surpass anyone he attempts to work with moving forward, the Patriots’ post-Brady years — along with potential consequences for in-house staffers on HC-needy teams — have him in the penalty box for now. With no retirement plans, Belichick’s potential re-emergence in 2025 will be a major NFL storyline over the next several months.

Patriots Notes: Kraft, Mayo, Caserio

Following a 24-year partnership, the Patriots and Bill Belichick mutually decided to part ways today. While the divorce didn’t necessarily come as a surprise, the organization’s handling of the separation raised some eyebrows.

[RELATED: Patriots, Bill Belichick To Part Ways]

Leading up to today’s announcement, there were rumblings that a number of teams would have interest in adding Belichick. Considering the iconic head coach was still under contract for another year, there was some speculation that the Patriots may try to squeeze compensation out of any suitors. However, much like how Robert Kraft handled the Tom Brady divorce, the owner thought his head coach deserved to pursue whatever opportunity he wanted.

“I didn’t think it was right for Tom Brady, who gave us 20 years, and I don’t think it’s right for Bill,” Kraft told reporters (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero).

There was a recent sentiment from some within the organization that Belichick hadn’t “lost his fastball” from a coaching perspective. Instead, many were questioning Belichick’s personnel decisions, whether it was regarding the draft, free agency, and even some of his coaching hires. That led some to wonder if Belichick would willingly cede personnel authority in order to stick around New England as head coach.

However, while Kraft acknowledged that he thought of such an arrangement, he never believed it would work. The owner told reporters that such a move would “create confusion with accountability” (as Jeff Howe of The Athletic passes along).

Belichick’s exit creates a vacancy on both the sideline and the front office. A number of Patriots-related coaches have been connected to the HC gig; former players Jerod Mayo and Mike Vrabel are both considered major contenders to take over. In fact, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport passes along that Mayo’s recent deal with the organization includes a “firm, contractual succession plan,” details that were passed along to the NFL. While the Patriots have no obligation to name Mayo as their next head coach, Rapoport notes that the organization doesn’t have to go through the hiring process if Mayo is indeed the choice.

Naturally, the same logic is being used with the front office, but one familiar face doesn’t have interest in a reunion. Ben Volin of the Boston Globe recently passed along that the Patriots could be eyeing former director of player personnel Nick Caserio to lead their front office. However, the current Texans general manager denied the rumors during a recent appearance on Sports Radio 610.

“Whoever these reporters are that make these ridiculous statements, maybe you want to talk to me about it first before putting information out there that has zero basis,” Caserio said during the appearance (via Tyler Milner of Sports Radio 610).

Bill Belichick Willing To Relinquish Patriots Personnel Authority

While a number of head coach-needy teams are starting to line up for Bill Belichick‘s services, there hasn’t been any word about the coach’s status in New England. While both sides could still be heading towards a divorce, it sounds like the iconic head coach is at least willing to make concessions to stick with the Patriots.

While speaking to reporters following yesterday’s regular season finale, Belichick admitted that he’d consider giving up his personnel authority.

“Look, I’m for whatever we collectively decide as an organization is the best thing to help our football team,” Belichick said (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss). “I have multiple roles in that, and I rely on a lot of people to help me in those responsibilities; somebody has to have the final say. Whatever that process is, I’m only part of it.”

When asked about his job status and whether he’d be staying with the organization, Belichick pointed out that he’s still “under contract” and will continue to operate as he always does. When asked if owner Robert Kraft has given any indication if he’ll be back next season, Belichick responded in typical fashion.

“I learned [a] lesson from my dad growing up — you work for the team that you’re working for and do the best you can for it, until somebody tells you different. So that’s not going to change,” he said.

There’s been a recent sentiment that Belichick “hasn’t lost his fastball” on the sideline, with most of the criticism focused on his lack of success with recent personnel decisions. Over the past 10 seasons, the Patriots have drafted only three players who eventually earned Pro Bowl nods (guard Joe Thuney, punter Jake Bailey, and quarterback Mac Jones), and the team’s spending spree during the 2021 offseason has led to mixed results.

Belichick’s personnel decisions go beyond the players on the field. The coach was criticized for his handling of Josh McDaniels‘ departure last season, with Belichick curiously opting for a former defensive coordinator (Matt Patricia) and former special teams coordinator (Joe Judge) to guide his offense. The results were disastrous, leading Kraft to request that Belichick add former OC Bill O’Brien to the staff. While Belichick obliged, he didn’t provide O’Brien with much freedom to run the operation, leading to tension on the coaching staff throughout the 2023 campaign. That lack of coaching consistency has also had a major impact on Jones, who has taken major steps backwards in each of the past two seasons.

It was uncertain if Belichick would be willing to continue coaching in New England while relinquishing his GM duties, and that willingness could play a big role in him ultimately sticking with the organization. Belichick was set to meet with Kraft today and discuss the team’s lack of success in 2023, but that meeting was never expected to lead to a Black Monday ouster. In fact, Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post suggests that the two sides could meet “multiple times” as they determine the best path forward.

For what it’s worth, Belichick refused to discuss a hypothetical where he’d join another team, but we’re already hearing rumblings that rival teams are ready to pounce. Just over the past few days, we’ve heard Belichick connected to the Raiders, Falcons, Commanders, and Panthers.

Bill Belichick-Patriots Separation Likely To Take Weeks To Finalize

The expectation around the NFL still points to the Patriots having a non-Bill Belichick HC for the first time since 1999, but Robert Kraft has kept his cards close to the vest. A process that likely will involve trade talks is not expected to be finalized especially soon.

Kraft has kept Belichick in the dark about his future, according to the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin, who indicates the two are scheduled to meet Monday. While owner-HC meetings the day after the regular season ends drove the term “Black Monday” into existence in the NFL, Volin adds the expectation will be for Kraft and Belichick to meet multiple times over the ensuing several weeks before finality arrives.

Belichick has sufficient credentials to avoid a Black Monday ouster, and the Patriots have long been expected to be aiming at avoiding an outright firing. It may come to that, as it is possible Belichick will not want to accept any additional power stripped — like a GM coming in to work alongside him — and would seek to be fired in order to be part of the coaching carousel on time. A drawn-out divorce would affect Belichick’s ability to land with another team. HC-needy teams can begin interviewing candidates on other staffs after the divisional round.

Kraft’s silence could point to demands from Belichick, Volin offers, in an attempt to salvage the situation. Kraft has famously intervened on multiple occasions in recent years, most notably in the Jimmy Garoppolo trade, and the longtime owner solidified Jerod Mayo‘s place on Belichick’s staff with an extension this past offseason. Belichick giving into more demands from Kraft would not be ideal for the 24-year Patriots HC, but if there is not a strong market for his services, that would seemingly be an option the future Hall of Famer considers.

As of late December, Belichick wanted to stay in New England and was not planning to resign. Doing so would be a costly move with another season of top-tier coaching money on the table in the event he stays on for a 25th season or is fired. The longer he remains in limbo with the Patriots, the longer other teams move on to other HC candidates.

Mayo resides the front of the line to replace Belichick, per SI.com’s Albert Breer, who notes the extension he signed this offseason — after a conversation with Kraft led to the linebackers coach turning down a chance to interview for the Panthers’ HC job — parallels Belichick’s in running through 2024. A former Patriots linebacker who has been on Belichick’s staff for five seasons, Mayo would become the NFL’s second-youngest active HC if hired; at 37, Mayo is two months younger than Sean McVay.

Kraft’s intervention with Mayo does point to the longtime Boston-area resident being a serious candidate, and going in that direction would be rather interesting. It would ensure continuity but also keep the Belichick pipeline flowing, just without Belichick. On that note, Volin adds a Brian Flores return has also generated some buzz. Flores made his mark as a Belichick assistant for over a decade, finishing that 11-year run as the de facto defensive coordinator for a Patriots team that held the Rams without a touchdown in Super Bowl LIII. Flores, 42, is finishing up his first season as the Vikings’ DC.

With Flores and Mike Vrabel being on the radar — Volin still lists the Titans’ HC as the Pats “home run” hire, though it would take a notable trade package to pry him from the Titans — signs point to Kraft preferring someone familiar with the Patriot Way rather than a true outsider. An overhaul would make sense given the shadow Belichick casts, but a transition to a current or former assistant would be smoother. As for Vrabel, he reaffirmed his commitment to the Titans. But the Patriots are believed to be monitoring that situation, which has involved rumors of discord between Vrabel and rookie GM Ran Carthon.

Flores returning to Foxborough would also be interesting due to his discrimination lawsuit including a text from Belichick believing Flores would be the Giants’ HC hire in 2022. Belichick later said he misunderstood the situation, as another of his former assistants — Brian Daboll — became New York’s hire. Flores also backed out of the Cardinals’ interview process last year. The lawsuit has not impeded the former Dolphins HC’s career, and it would not surprise to see multiple teams reach out about their HC vacancy this coming offseason.

A Mayo promotion or Flores return would assuredly also come with Kraft hiring either a true GM or someone with similar responsibilities. It also is worth wondering if another organization would give Belichick GM power. While the Panthers and perhaps another NFC South team have interest in the NFL sideline staple, his recent run as the Pats’ de facto GM is largely responsible for their swoon. GM power — be it with the Pats or another team, possibly the Chargers — will be part of this equation, but the drama here looks likely to last for a bit.

Latest On Patriots, Bill Belichick

Prior to pushing the Bills in Week 17, the Patriots derailed the Broncos to bring a simmering Russell Wilson storyline to the surface. Reported to be heading toward a Bill Belichick divorce, the Patriots have a rather important decision to make in the coming days.

Robert Kraft is believed to want to avoid firing his six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach, leading to rampant trade speculation. A trade would complicate matters for all parties, placing Belichick in limbo in an age range in which no head coach has ever landed a job. The 71-year-old HC/de facto GM’s accomplishments obviously lap every other candidate on the 2024 carousel, but the topic of Belichick the GM will be a component in Pats talks with other teams — assuming those transpire.

[RELATED: Will Chargers Pursue Belichick In Trade?]

As of Sunday, however, Belichick and Kraft are not believed to have discussed plans beyond this season, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, who report a scenario still exists in which the longtime HC stays with the Patriots for a 25th season.

Belichick, who will turn 72 in April, is not planning to retire. Eager to break Don Shula‘s record for career wins (347), Belichick is 14 behind the Hall of Famer. Because of the Pats’ 2023 struggles, the 2024 season does not represent a realistic window for that record to change hands. The ’25 season probably does, but Belichick’s status is certainly up in the air for that season. He is believed to be under contract through the ’24 season, but not much has emerged indicating which way this will go in recent days.

The prospect of Belichick ceding personnel power to another voice in New England’s building is worth discussing, as the Patriots do not have an upper-echelon roster. Draft mistakes have left the team, on offense in particular, with glaring deficiencies. Belichick’s defensive acumen has helped the Pats compensate for the losses of Matt Judon and Christian Gonzalez, but the team has made errors in assembling its roster since its Super Bowl LIII win. As for Belichick focusing on an HC-only role with the Pats, SI.com’s Albert Breer is not of the belief that will be a workable scenario for someone who has held full control during his second stint with the organization.

Kraft could be put to a seminal test soon, and the fast-paced nature of the HC carousel will be an issue for any team interested in Belichick as well. The Patriots are unlikely to fetch a first-round pick for Belichick. No team has ever hired a head coach older than 66, and the Belichick-as-GM element will undoubtedly be an issue for clubs interested in acquiring him as a head coach. If Belichick wants to continue as an NFL HC, he might need to agree to a high-level personnel exec either joining the Patriots or working alongside such a staffer in another city.

Linked on numerous occasions to playing a key role in the Jimmy Garoppolo trade six years ago, Kraft does not want a Belichick divorce to remind of Tom Brady‘s departure in free agency, per Rapoport and Pelissero, who note the longtime owner has consulted with many about how to proceed here. A firing is not viewed as likely.

Although Belichick is not believed to want to leave Foxborough, he would presumably want freedom to either seek a trade or become a coaching free agent if Kraft determines his time is up in New England. It remains to be seen how the owner will play this, and we would seem to be days away from finding out.

Bill Belichick Not Aiming To Leave Patriots?

The Patriots’ three remaining games are expected to double as the final three contests of the Bill Belichick era in New England. Robert Kraft is believed to have made a decision to move on from the legendary HC. The process may soon become complicated.

With the Patriots holding Belichick’s rights through 2024, via the contract extension he agreed to earlier this year, they will hope to trade the 24-year HC and pick up an asset. Should the Pats travel down that road, the timeline could become an issue for both the team and Belichick.

As it stands now, however, Belichick is not seeking a divorce. The six-time Super Bowl-winning HC wants to stay in New England, according to the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin. Belichick-Kraft tension has simmered for years, dating back to the end of the Tom Brady era, and it would not exactly be surprising to see the parties’ working relationship end badly.

Belichick, 71, does not intend to resign, Volin adds, which will put some pressure on Kraft to find a trade partner. Kraft’s attempt at an amicable solution could drag well into the offseason, which would hamstring Belichick. If the process stalls, teams will move to other candidates during the frenzied winter hiring period. Each of the five teams seeking HCs this year had hires in place a day after Super Bowl LVII. The Patriots not finding a taker early also would limit their search for a Belichick replacement, though potential heir apparent Jerod Mayo‘s presence provides some protection for the team.

Going into the season, the Pats had hoped Belichick would return in 2024 before a potential baton pass to Mayo could take place. The Pats’ struggles look to have changed the plan, and a Belichick exit has been assumed for weeks. That said, the moving parts here could potentially force Kraft to fire Belichick in what would likely be labeled as a mutual parting. That would give the storied sideline presence free rein to pursue another job, and Volin reiterates the NFL’s second-winningest coach does not intend to retire after this season.

The Patriots have hit a wall with Belichick in place as their HC and de facto GM. While the historically successful defensive tactician has propped up the Patriots on that side of the ball, despite Matt Judon and Christian Gonzalez‘s early-season injuries, New England’s offense is once again wallowing near the NFL’s basement. The team benched Mac Jones for 2022 fourth-rounder Bailey Zappe, whose camp struggles had led to him being waived in August. The Pats’ JuJu Smith-Schuster signing has not produced much of consequence, with the team outfitting Jones and Zappe with a bottom-tier skill-position corps. If Belichick is to stay, there would likely be changes to the team’s power structure — one that has lost key personnel bastions Nick Caserio and Dave Ziegler over the past three years. Would Kraft sign off on another Belichick-run offseason?

It will be interesting to see if Kraft would be amenable to Belichick staying and becoming the rare lame-duck coach, as his contract is believed to expire after the 2024 season. The deal, per Volin, is believed to be worth at least $25MM, which is at or near the top of the HC ranks. No trade coming to pass would leave the Pats on the hook for that payout, though offset language from a Belichick contract elsewhere would help New England here. Kraft effectively issued a playoff mandate this offseason. For Belichick to fall well short of that goal and be retained would surprise, especially given the rumors that have emerged this season.

While a first-rounder was floated as possible Belichick compensation, Volin classifies that as highly unlikely. In addition to Belichick not wanting his new team to send the Patriots a valuable asset for his services, he is coming off back-to-back unremarkable years and is much older than anyone who has ever been hired as a head coach throughout NFL history. The Buccaneers made Bruce Arians the oldest HC hired; he was 66 at the time. Belichick will turn 72 in April.

Belichick’s extensive past with personnel power might also interfere with a team’s plans; that arrangement, should he still want such control, may be an issue for the Chargers. The Commanders are also not expected to hand over full control to their next HC, Albert Breer of SI.com notes. Ron Rivera and Martin Mayhew are expected to be fired at season’s end, and while Washington has not employed a particularly successful coach since Joe Gibbs‘ second stint, new owner Josh Harris is not planning to appeal to Belichick by offering full personnel control.

The easiest way for the Patriots to close this chapter would be a mutual parting (firing) at season’s end. If no suitable trade offer for Belichick emerges, that may be where this ends. For now, the Kraft-Belichick era persists. How much longer will it last?

Latest On Patriots’ Plans At HC

With Bill Belichick and the Patriots heading towards a likely divorce, much of the focus has been on the future Hall of Fame coach’s next landing spot. Of course, if the Patriots do decide to move on from the iconic leader of their franchise, they’ll have a massive hole to fill themselves.

As Ben Volin of the Boston Globe writes, it seems like the Patriots’ initial plan was to keep Belichick on board through the 2024 campaign. At that time, they’d hand the reigns to Jerod Mayo, who spurned HC interviews last offseason to stick around as New England’s de facto defensive coordinator. Of course, following a dreadful 2023 campaign, Robert Kraft and co. are clearly having a change of heart…and that might not bode well for Mayo’s chances of being Belichick’s successor.

Volin notes that Mayo will obviously remain a candidate for the assumed HC vacancy, but he won’t be the only candidate. This is partly due to Mayo’s brief coaching resume, and ownership might prefer to jump start their rebuild with a more established voice in the locker room.

Some pundits have suggested that Mike Vrabel could take over for his former coach. While some reporters have thrown cold water on that notion, sources told Volin that the Titans coach could be a real possibility for the Patriots. Of course, since Vrabel is under contract, the Titans would likely require compensation from the Patriots, with Volin suggesting Tennessee would seek a first-round pick in return. Dianna Russini of The Athletic still rejects the connection, with the reporter definitively stating that the Patriots aren’t trading for Vrabel.

Outside of Mayo and Vrabel, there haven’t been many coaches connected to the potential opening. In fact, the vacancy might not be all that appealing, with two agents telling Volin that they wouldn’t recommend the gig to their clients. A new head coach would have to fill a massive “power vacuum,” as one agent explained, and that would include implementing an entirely new offensive and defensive philosophy. On the flip side, one agent told Volin that the job would be desirable considering the success of the Kraft family.

Another option could see the Patriots sticking to the status quo, with Volin saying the “path of least resistance” is to keep Belichick on the sideline for another year. Since Belichick is still under contract, it seems unlikely the Patriots would outright fire him; they’d still owe Belichick the remainder of his deal and they wouldn’t recoup any value when he inevitably lands another job. If the Patriots don’t like their head coaching options and aren’t getting suitable offers for their coach, they may simply decide to keep Belichick around for at least another year. Jeff Howe writes that Kraft could also reevaluate Belichick’s future if the Patriots finish the season on a winning streak. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com is in agreement with Howe, writing that a firing appears to be the least likely outcome, and that a strong performance to close the season could keep Belichick in Foxborough. For what it’s worth, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com notes that the team is continuing to play hard for its HC.

Of course, this decision isn’t entirely in the Patriots’ hands. Belichick has a bit of leverage in the situation, and it sounds like he’s just about done with his time in New England. Per Volin, Belichick is tired of Kraft’s “meddling,” tension that started with the organization’s decision to trade Jimmy Garoppolo and extended to this offseason when the Patriots brought in Bill O’Brien to guide the offense.

Patriots Expected To Move On From Bill Belichick; Chargers On Radar?

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.

Latest On Patriots, Bill Belichick

Speculation continues with respect to the Patriots and their 2024 coaching setup. Bill Belichick is believed to be under contract through next season, but it very much remains to be seen if he will be allowed to continue in his current post in the wake of a highly underwhelming campaign this year.

[RELATED: Patriots Targeting 2024 QB Addition]

Owner Robert Kraft has made his frustrations clear during the season, and Belichick has been the subject of questions regarding his job security. The latter has been connected to a number of other potential coaching vacancies for the coming offseason, but the fact he has not been let go by this point suggests he will have a large say in how (if at all) he departs New England. A mutual parting of ways appears to be the desired outcome to this situation from at least one perspective.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated writes that Kraft’s “preference would be for an amicable separation” with respect to Belichick’s tenure coming to a close. A dismissal would require paying out the remaining term on his contract – a rather standard practice in the NFL – but Belichick deciding to retire or head elsewhere via trade would eliminate that concern. On that point, Breer adds that Kraft could insist on compensation with a trade, something which could complicate the situation.

Belichick – whom Breer notes is expected by some close to him to continue coaching next season, regardless of how New England’s season finishes – could try to insist Kraft fires him to save draft capital for his next employer. The Commanders and Panthers have been floated as possible landing spots for Belichick, while a high-profile post such as that of the Cowboys could be in play as well. For now, though, much will depend on the relationship between Kraft and Belichick and their ability to reach a consensus regarding a path forward.

The latter will be 72 by the start of the 2024 season, and any plans he makes with the Patriots or any other team will surely be short-term in nature. His intentions will be a major storyline in New England over the coming months and Kraft’s willingness to accommodate them will be as well.