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.
Bill Belichick Candidate For Panthers HC Job?
Since buying the Panthers in 2018, David Tepper has employed six head coaches (including interims). So, with the organization eyeing a replacement for the recently-fired Frank Reich, Tepper surely wants his new hire to stick. So, it shouldn’t be much of a surprise that the Panthers are already connected to the biggest potential name on the HC market.
[RELATED: Panthers Fire HC Frank Reich]
League sources told Chad Finn of the Boston Globe that the Panthers are a team to watch in the upcoming Bill Belichick sweepstakes. The iconic head coach could see his illustrious tenure with the Patriots come to an end following the season, and while Robert Kraft and co. could hold out for trade compensation, Belichick will likely have a say in his next landing spot.
Since most teams would surely welcome in one of the greatest head coaches of all time, you would figure the lowly (and tumultuous) Panthers would be hard pressed to recruit Belichick. However, Finn notes that there are a number of factors that could draw the 71-year-old to Carolina.
For starters, the smaller media market means the curmudgeonly Belichick wouldn’t have to deal with the same headaches caused by the Boston media. Next, the coach would be “far away” from the Patriots and the AFC East, and the Panthers aren’t scheduled to take on New England until the 2025 campaign. Belichick would also be closer to his home in Florida, where he likes to spend parts of the offseason.
Of course, financials could also convince Belichick to join the Panthers. Tepper is the third-richest owner in the NFL, meaning he’d be able to pay Belichick while also spend on a pricey roster. Plus, considering general manager Scott Fitterer‘s uncertain future with the organization, Belichick would probably have carte blanche to run the front office as he wishes.
From the Panthers perspective, a Belichick hire would run counter to recent reports that the organization was eyeing more of an offensive-minded coach. Further, Tepper made it clear that he wants his next coach to be with the organization for the long haul. While Belichick might still have a few years left in the tank, the Panthers would be foolish to expect a long-term commitment from the coach.
Belichick will be one of many coaches connected to the Panthers gig once the season comes to an end. For what it’s worth, interim head coach Chris Tabor might not be included in that grouping of candidates. Tabor told reporters that he was given no assurances that he’ll be considered for the full-time job (per ESPN’s David Newton).
Patriots Waive QB Will Grier
The Patriots’ backup QB carousel continues. The team is waiving quarterback Will Grier, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The move clears a spot for p-squad offensive lineman Conor McDermott to join the 53-man roster, per Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald.
[RELATED: Patriots Undecided On Week 12 QB Starter]
While Mac Jones has started every game for the Patriots this season, the depth chart behind him has seen plenty of reshuffling. Projected backup (and potential QB1 fill-in) Bailey Zappe was bounced from the roster after the preseason, only to later rejoin the active roster via the practice squad. Former third-round pick Matt Corral was also briefly on the team before eventually earning his walking papers.
The Patriots then pivoted to Grier as a potential backup option. Grier most recently served as one of Dak Prescott‘s backups in Dallas, but following the Cowboys’ acquisition of Trey Lance, the 2019 third-round pick was cut loose. After a brief stint on the Bengals practice squad, Grier was added to New England’s 53-man roster back in late September.
Grier hasn’t seen the field at all this season, and even with the Patriots’ uncertain QB situation, it was unlikely he was going to earn a promotion from his QB3 role. Coach Bill Belichick admitted as much during a recent appearance on Patriots All-Access.
“When you’re new and haven’t been here in training camp and had the full background of OTAs and a chance to run our core plays, it’s a lot to catch up on,” Belichick said. “Will has done a good job of it. There’s no issues with him. It’s just there’s only so many snaps out there.”
With Grier no longer on the roster, Malik Cunningham could be in line for snaps if the Patriots pivot from both Jones and Zappe. The UDFA out of Louisville has spent much of the season working with the Patriots receivers, although the organization hasn’t completely shut the door on his QB abilities. For what it’s worth, the rookie did tell Kyed that he’s not part of the team’s plans at quarterback tomorrow against the Giants.
So, as expected, that leaves Jones and Zappe as the candidates to start Week 12. The Patriots still haven’t announced who will start the game, but with Jones having reportedly lost “at least 80 percent of the Patriots’ locker room,” there seems to be some real momentum towards Zappe earning his first start of the season. The 2022 fourth-round pick showed some flashes as a rookie, but the Patriots have been reluctant to turn to the second-year pro in 2023.
That lack of faith could be because of Zappe’s underwhelming performances at practice. As Kyed writes, the second-year pro has struggled under new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, and Jones has been the superior QB every step of the way. While that’s obviously not saying a whole lot, the Patriots may be struggling to justify a Zappe promotion.
Is Bill Belichick To Dallas A Real Possibility?
We’ve written quite a bit lately on the struggles of the Patriots and the possibility of the franchise and head coach Bill Belichick parting ways. We’ve even explored quite a few options to take up the reigns in New England, should that change take place. But what about the future for Belichick? 
In the lengthy FMIA published by Peter King of NBC Sports on a weekly basis, King floated a couple of ideas of where Belichick may land. The first option, King throws into the ring is Dallas. It may seem difficult to picture the Cowboys letting go of current head coach Mike McCarthy as they currently sit at 8-3, tied for the second-best record in the NFL and the fifth seed in the NFC, but King lays down a scenario in which he could see a fed up Jerry Jones move on to new leadership.
King thinks that the Cowboys have to lose their division, have a questionable showing or two down the stretch of the regular season, and go winless in the playoffs. They’re currently two games back of the division-leading Eagles with one head-to-head loss and a home matchup remaining against their division-rival, so that one’s not unlikely, though still up in the air.
As for the likelihood of the questionable showings, the Cowboys already have a loss to the Kyler Murray-less Cardinals and are 0-2 against teams with a winning record. The remainder of their schedule sees them encounter matchups with the Seahawks (6-5), Eagles, (9-1), Bills (6-5), Dolphins (8-3), and Lions (8-3). There are plenty of opportunities down the stretch for the Cowboys to lay an egg or two against a good team.
Finally, the Cowboys are no strangers to playoff heartbreak. In the past two seasons, they’ve ended the regular season 12-5 but have gone a combined 1-2 in the playoffs of those years. Combine that with the fact that Dallas has failed to make it out of the Divisional round of the playoffs every year since they won the Super Bowl in 1995, and it’s not hard to imagine the possibility of a winless postseason this year.
Of course, Cowboys fans do not want to focus on any of this. They are sitting at 8-3 riding high after a 45-10 dismantling of the Commanders. They have three prime-time games coming up in a five-game stretch that will prove to be a strong litmus test as to the team’s status as a contender. They’re focused on proving that Dallas is the real deal in the coming weeks and would likely shun the idea of entertaining a rumor like this.
Unfortunately, the likelihood of the scenario that King proposes is still a non-zero number. If that scenario plays out, those same fans may be calling for McCarthy’s head and rejoicing the prospect of bringing in a legend like Belichick, despite his current 2-8 record and his 27-34 record since Tom Brady left New England.
King also points out that, while it seems unlikely that a control freak like Belichick would ever want to work under a control freak like Jones, many thought the same of legendary coach Bill Parcells, whom Jones once coached out of a second retirement in order to coach the ‘Boys back in 2003. Regardless, lots will still need to play out before any of this becomes a possibility, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely out of the realm of possibility.
Latest On Bill Belichick’s Patriots Future
Sunday saw the Patriots fall to 2-8 on the season, adding to what has been an underwhelming campaign for a team which appears destined to miss the postseason for the third time in four years. As the losing skid continues, questions will no doubt intensify about Bill Belichick‘s job security.
[RELATED: Exploring Potential Post-Belichick Patriots Options]
“This is our thirtieth year that I’ve had the privilege of owning this team, and I’ve never been 2-7,” owner Robert Kraft said in a pre-game interview with NFL Network’s Rich Eisen (video link). “So it’s really disappointing and I hoped that things would be a lot better, as I know our fan base did… This isn’t what we were expecting to happen this year.”
Kraft’s postseason-or-bust ultimatum in the offseason led to speculation about how the team would handle Belichick’s future if expectations weren’t met. The latter signed a new deal prior to the start of the 2023 campaign, though the terms of that agreement were unclear at first. Previous reports have suggested the contract only runs through 2024, and Eisen’s colleague Ian Rapoport confirmed Sunday that is indeed the case. Moving on from Belichick after the season would thus not be financially prohibitive for Kraft.
Speculation has increased about teams showing interest in Belichick in the event he becomes available via trade or if he were to find his New England tenure come to an end via firing or resignation. On that point, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports the expectation from many around the situation remains a “mutual parting of the ways” after the season finishes (subscription required). As she and Rapoport note, however, it would come as a surprise if a coaching change were to be made midseason despite the struggles New England has endured so far.
Of course, the evaluation of Belichick from Kraft could chance in the coming weeks, but signs continue to point to a changing of the guard on the sidelines in the spring. The willingness Kraft shows to eat one season’s worth of Belichick’s deal – as well as the interest he shows in a potential replacement – will certainly be a major storyline to watch as the second half of the campaign plays out.
Patriots Unlikely To Pick Up QB Mac Jones’ Fifth-Year Option
The NFL career of Patriots quarterback Mac Jones started off hot. Following two years of apparent regression, though, he’s putting himself in a tough position for the future. With the team’s decision of whether or not to pick up the third-year passer’s fifth-year option looming this offseason, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald finds it hard to believe that New England opts in for the extra year. 
After a Pro Bowl rookie campaign that saw Jones lead the Patriots to the playoffs while throwing for 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions, New England has struggled to match that success. In three fewer starts the next year, Jones would go 6-8 as a starter, throwing for just under 3,000 yards with 14 touchdowns to 11 interceptions. This season, his yards per game has continued to decline while he now holds an even ratio of 10 touchdowns to 10 interceptions.
Now, there are a few different areas that could contribute to this decline in performance. While Jones enjoyed some consistency in his receiving corps over his first two years in New England, his cast of receivers looks a bit different this year. The team allowed Jones’ favorite target, Jakobi Meyers, to walk in free agency, opting to replace him with free agent addition JuJu Smith-Schuster. Meyers has shown his usual consistency in Las Vegas, while Smith-Schuster has looked like a shadow of his former self, only racking up 140 yards in seven starts this year.
Another issue could potentially be the lack of consistent instruction. After playing under offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels in his rookie year, Jones led an offense devised by a strange mix of Bill Belichick, senior football advisor (and former defensive coordinator) Matt Patricia, and offensive assistant (and former special teams coordinator) Joe Judge. This year, Bill O’Brien has led the charge as offensive coordinator.
In reality, the excuses don’t amount to much. In a league that very much values the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately mindset, Jones hasn’t done much this year. In fact, with Belichick’s future with the franchise in doubt, what Jones has shown the league becomes that much more important. Jones won’t get the benefit of familiarity if an outside coach and a new general manager come in and look at his total body of work.
If those new team leaders look at this season alone, Jones has been benched three times, the third coming in today’s loss to the Colts. Kyed asserts that, if New England had better backup options behind him, Jones wouldn’t even be starting anymore after three benchings. The first two came in contests that were so out of range for the team that the move could’ve been viewed as protective of their starting passer. Today’s game, though, was very much in range. When the Patriots had an opportunity to drive down the field for a game-winning touchdown, Jones found himself on the bench as backup quarterback Bailey Zappe was shouldered with the task of leading the team to victory.
“To make people believe, you have to be better,” Jones told reporters when asked if he felt Belichick still believed in him, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “I’m not sure. I don’t know.”
In terms of what all of this means for the fifth-year option of Jones’ first-round rookie contract, it’s hard to believe that the Patriots are ready to commit to Jones for this current 2023 season or the 2024 season next year, let alone 2025. There’s still plenty of time this year for Jones to turn things around and prove that he deserves more time, but if Belichick is truly on his way out, Jones will just need to be that much more convincing for the next crew who takes over.
Patriots Notes: Vrabel, Klemm, Onwenu, Boutte
With the Patriots in the midst of their worst season in decades, there’s been plenty of speculation regarding Bill Belichick‘s future in New England. If either Belichick or the organization decides to move on, it’s been assumed that de facto defensive coordinator Jerod Mayo would take over as head coach.
However, there are some whispers that Patriots brass could actually look towards another former linebacker to succeed Belichick. According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, there are “definitely people” within the Patriots organization who would be receptive to a Mike Vrabel hiring. Ben Volin of the Boston Globe previously described a Vrabel pursuit as a “home run” option for the organization.
Of course, if the Patriots were interested in hiring Vrabel, they’d have to convince the Titans to let go of their head coach. Vrabel signed an extension with the organization in 2022 and is presumably under contract for at least a few more years. If the Titans get a hint that the Patriots will make a serious pursuit, there’s a good chance they’ll try to grab some compensation from New England.
On the flip side, the Patriots could just wait for the Titans to make a change. The Titans may finish with their second-straight losing season, and Vrabel hasn’t won a playoff game since the team’s 2019 run. Ownership may decide to pull the plug on their coaching staff, much like they did with GM Jon Robinson last December.
More notes out of New England…
- Patriots offensive line coach Adrian Klemm is expected to be away from the team “for a little while” while dealing with a personal health issue, Belichick told reporters (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss). The former Patriots second-round pick joined New England’s coaching staff this past offseason after having spent the 2022 campaign as Oregon’s associate head coach/OL coach. Assistant OL coach Billy Yates will likely take on more responsibility while Klemm is out.
- Michael Onwenu has bounced around the offensive line throughout his career. After excelling at right tackle as a rookie, the sixth-round pick was moved to left guard during his sophomore season. He was switched to right guard in 2022 and went on to earn Pro Bowl honors, and he stuck at the position to begin the 2023 season. However, recent injuries and OL inconsistencies have forced Onwenu back to RT, and Belichick told reporters that the organization is comfortable keeping the fourth-year player at the position (per Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald).
- Sixth-round rookie WR Kayshon Boutte hasn’t been active since he played 55 snaps in Week 1. Following Kendrick Bourne‘s season-ending injury, Boutte was expected to see a larger role on offense, but he proceeded to be inactive in Week 9 against the Commanders.There’s been some speculation that the rookie could be in Belichick’s doghouse after failing to get a second foot down on a crucial drive in Week 1, but Boutte dismissed that notion. “I don’t feel like I’m in the doghouse,” he said (via Reiss). “Looking back at the first game, I know that I can get open. I know how to create separation. That’s why I’m comfortable with myself.”
- We learned earlier today that cornerback J.C. Jackson won’t be traveling to Germany for New England’s matchup against the Colts this weekend.
Possible Futures For HC Bill Belichick, Patriots
While speculation has run amok on multiple occasions this season that Patriots head coach Bill Belichick could be on the hot seat in New England, he went off and silently signed a “lucrative, multiyear” extension in the offseason. According to a recent report from Ben Volin of the Boston Globe, a source has disclosed that they believe the new contract only runs through the 2024 season. If the Patriots truly have plans to move on from their longtime head coach, what would that look like? And what would that mean for Belichick or the Patriots?
Even if the extension keeps Belichick for only one additional year, Volin isn’t convinced that he makes it that long, believing it would take “a miracle turnaround” for this not to be his last season in New England, even claiming there’s a chance Belichick doesn’t make it through the rest of the season. With a bye week coming up in two weeks, the team’s trip to Germany could be crucial. While Volin is only voicing an opinion, the writer for the Globe has been on the Patriots beat for ten years and should have a decent read on the team’s pulse.
He doesn’t believe, however, that recent reports of Washington desiring a trade for Belichick are believable. While the idea of reeling in Belichick and allowing him to recreate his former staff with Matt Patricia, Josh McDaniels, and Joe Judge seems like an interesting idea on its surface, one the Patriots would rejoice over having a draft pick in return for, the Commanders don’t have the spare cash to bring on the NFL’s highest-paid coach. Also, with a franchise who seems intent on pumping out old blood in a mass transfusion, bringing in one of the NFL’s second-oldest head coaches doesn’t quite fit the bill. If current head coach Ron Rivera is on the way out, as many have prophesized, a younger replacement seems far more likely.
Now, if the Patriots do cut ties with the 71-year-old skipper, who takes over as the first new head coach of the Patriots in 24 years? Team owner Robert Kraft (and his son, team president Jonathan Kraft) have repeatedly stuck with names already popular in New England. According to Volin’s sources, Titans head coach Mike Vrabel would be a “home run” hire to replace Belichick.
Vrabel, a former player who spent eight years playing linebacker for the Patriots and helping them win three Super Bowls, moved quickly through the coaching ranks, moving on from a position coaching job at Ohio State to work his way up to defensive coordinator of the Texans. After one year at the helm of Houston’s defense, Vrabel was hired in Tennessee where he has amassed a 51-39 regular season record and gone 2-3 in the playoffs. He received a new contract after the 2021 season, but there’ve been rumors that Vrabel and new general manager Ran Carthon don’t quite see eye to eye. So, perhaps, New England could entice Vrabel towards a reunion.
Since Belichick also serves as de facto GM, a new GM would become a necessity, as well. The same sources that pointed to Vrabel labelled Texans GM Nick Caserio as another “home run” hire. A longtime member of the Patriots’ player personnel department, Caserio won his newest position after 13 years as director of player personnel in New England. After two rough years at the helm in Houston, Caserio may have looked expendable to start the year, but rookie head coach DeMeco Ryans and rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud have injected new blood and excitement into the Texans franchise. Caserio would likely be a tough get at this point, unless there’s some hidden discontent on behalf of Ryans, who may be looked to as the pilot of this season’s potential turnaround.
Volin didn’t stop there, even speculating on future potential coordinators for this “home run” staff. Many don’t view current offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien as the team’s play caller of the future. In fact, not many believe that was the intent when he was brought in in the first place, assuming he would use the role as “a springboard to a head coaching opportunity.” With quarterback Mac Jones struggling and the offense scoring the second-least points in the NFL, he certainly doesn’t appear to be on the short-list to replace Belichick or even retain his play calling duties for much longer.
Instead, a reunion with McDaniels, the recently fired former head coach of the Raiders, seems within the realm of possibility. McDaniels probably isn’t in a hurry to take a new job, as he’s getting paid by Las Vegas for the next four years, but he may feel the need to return to the NFL by at least next season, in order to ensure his name stays fresh in NFL circles. A return to the familiar grounds of New England seems reasonable. 
On defense, inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo is thought to be a big up and coming coach in New England, after refusing a head coaching interview in order to take a big payday with the Patriots. Mayo may not be ready to take over as head coach in New England just yet, but he may be able to earn defensive coordinator duties in a hypothetical Vrabel staff. Regardless, the Kraft’s love him and were willing to pay a lot of money in order to keep him from leaving for greener pastures.
While all of this is purely hypothetical, the heat on Belichick seems very real. With the Patriots facing a possible 2-8 start if they can’t pull out a win in Frankfurt, the end of the Belichick-era may soon be at hand. There are lots of things to figure out between now and the prophesies above, but if things continue going from bad to worse, we may see it all play out in the months to come.
Commanders Eyeing Bill Belichick?
Things have gone from bad to worse in New England, with the Patriots currently sitting at the bottom of the AFC standings. This has naturally led to some chatter about Bill Belichick‘s job security and his future with the organization. Further, the Patriots’ record has led some NFL insiders to question if Belichick could be employed elsewhere next season.
[RELATED: Patriots Signed Bill Belichick To Offseason Extension]
According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, there’s “chatter in some league circles” that the Commanders could make a run at Belichick this upcoming offseason. While Florio cautions that this “isn’t a report that it will happen,” he said it’s a possibility that’s currently being thrown around the league.
While this might seem like a random pairing, Florio explains that the Belichick/Commanders connection is rooted in some logic. The Commanders signaled at the trade deadline that they’re looking to restart under new owner Josh Harris, and that could eventually lead to him cleaning house among coaches and executives. Who better to lead the next era of Washington football than one of the greatest coaches of all time?
For the Patriots, they’d be able to avoid a firing or “mutual parting,” with both of these routes likely resulting in them owing Belichick some money. Plus, assuming Belichick is still under contract for the 2024 campaign, the Commanders would be required to compensate the Patriots. For a team that’s lacking in future pieces and would be eyeing their own significant reset, extra draft assets would surely come in handy.
Of course, there are some complications surrounding this pursuit, and that’s why Florio notes that neither side would ever acknowledge the rumors. For starters, the Commanders couldn’t be hyper-focused on Belichick since they need to adhere to the Rooney Rule. This requires the organization to go through proper interviews for head coach and GM candidates.
The second sticking point is Belichick’s contract. We heard in late October that the head coach had recently signed an extension with the Patriots, and the terms of that contract could ultimately determine whether the legendary coach sticks around New England. As Albert Breer of SI.com notes, the reported “extension” may have actually been a simple reworking of the deal, and there’s a chance Belichick’s pact only lasts through the 2024 campaign. This wouldn’t be dissimilar to how the Patriots handled Tom Brady‘s exit; the team signed the quarterback to a reported extension, but the terms of the deal only increased the likelihood that Brady would end up leaving New England.
Breer believes we could be eyeing a similar scenario here. At the very least, the reporter believes Patriots owner Robert Kraft will have to make a difficult decision on Belichick this offseason. If the coach’s contract does truly last through the 2024 campaign, there’s little chance the organization will let Belichick head into next season with lame-duck status.
Florio also raised an eyebrow at the recent extension reports. The reporter says he assumed the report came from Belichick’s camp and was attended to cool rumors surrounding a potential firing. However, Florio is now wondering if the report was leaked by the Patriots, with the organization signaling that they’ll be the ones determining Belichick’s future destination.
It wasn’t very long ago that a Belichick firing would seem like a fantasy. The HC/GM built a pair of dynasty squads in his 23-plus years in New England, winning six Super Bowl rings while climbing up the all-time wins list for coaches. However, since Brady left, things haven’t been as rosy. The team went 7-9 during their first season without Brady, and they took a step forward with rookie Mac Jones in 2021, going 10-7 while returning to the playoffs.
However, the team has taken massive steps back in recent years. It didn’t seem like it could get much worse than last season’s 8-9 showing, but the Patriots have gotten off to a dreadful 2-6 start in 2023. Belichick has earned plenty of blame for the team’s current predicament, with the coach being called out for questionable coaching decisions, his handling of Jones and the quarterback position, and his subpar draft record in recent years.
Patriots Signed Bill Belichick To Offseason Extension
2023 has seen the Patriots struggle across the board, leading to questions about Bill Belichick‘s future in the organization. The 71-year-old appears to be safe for the remainder of this season, though, in part due to a renewed commitment the team made in him recently.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports the Patriots and Belichick agreed to a “lucrative, multiyear” extension this past offseason. While the terms of the pact remain unknown at this point, Rapoport noted on NFL GameDay Morning that it is in line to keep Belichick in place “long-term.” The six-time Super Bowl winner has been in New England since 2000, but the team’s 1-5 start has exposed shortcomings which have been increasingly criticized since Tom Brady‘s departure.
Belichick was thought by many to be facing a make-or-break season in 2023 with owner Robert Kraft delivering what amounted to a playoffs-or-bust ultimatum. While that was later walked back, expectations have nevertheless grown that 2023 could be Belichick’s final year before retiring or being replaced in his coaching and managing capacity. Even after today’s update, it very much remains to be seen if a changing of the guard will be delayed come the offseason.
As NBC Sports’ Tom E. Curran notes, the deal is unlikely to preclude a change being made following the 2023 campaign if one is deemed necessary by Kraft. Plenty of time remains in the season, but the Patriots are on track to miss the playoffs for the third time in the four years since Brady departed in free agency. His presumed long-term successor (Mac Jones) has not fared as well as expected under new OC Bill O’Brien, leading to speculation he could lose his starting role and highlighting the lack of organizational agreement on drafting him in the first place. Continued struggles from Jones and the offense will no doubt lead to increased calls for changes on the sidelines.
Indeed, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated corroborates Curran’s note that 2024 could very well be a contract year for Belichick in the wake of his offseason deal. Details are unlikely to emerge on that front, given the Patriots’ secretive nature on such matters. Still, it is far from uncommon for NFL coaches to be let go with term remaining on their deals, so Belichick’s tenure should not be considered secure beyond the conclusion of the 2023 season.