BOSTON — Bill Belichick is leaving the New England Patriots after an historic 24 years as head coach, ending one of the most successful runs in NFL and sports history.
Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft part ways
The Patriots made it official at noon with an announcement on their website and social media that simply said, “The Patriots and Bill Belichick have mutually agreed to part ways.”
Moments later, at a packed news conference at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Belichick and Robert Kraft appeared together for the last time as owner and head coach. Both made statements and neither took questions.
New England Patriots Press Conference
Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft at Gillette Stadium on Thursday, January 11, 2024.
MADDIE MEYER / GETTY IMAGES
Belichick spoke first saying, “I haven’t seen this many cameras since we signed (Tim) Tebow. Robert and I, after a series of discussions, have mutually agreed to part ways.”
“For me this is a day of gratitude and celebration. Start with Robert and his family. So much thanks for the opportunity to be a head coach here for 24 years. Such an amazing opportunity and I received tremendous support. We had a vision of building a winner, building a championship football team here and it exceeded my wildest dreams and expectations,” Belichick said.
“The amount of success we were able to achieve together through a lot of hard work and the contributions of many people, I’m very proud of that and will always have those great memories. I’ll carry those with me my whole life.”
“Regardless on how long the players were or weren’t here, the role was, how many games they played or even if they didn’t win championships or didn’t, I respect the way the players came here and did business. I’ve coached well over 1,000 and their ability to work, prepare, train in the weight room, train their bodies, meet, rehearse over and over again what we need to do things right to be successful to win, I have so much respect for all the players,” Belichick said.
He also thanked the media and Patriots fans.
“To the media, you guys, I don’t know if anybody has gotten more coverage than I have or we have over the last 24 years. A lot of respect for what you guys do. You are our voice to the fans. Even though we don’t see eye-to-eye all the time, most of the time, not all the time, I do respect what you do,” Belichick told reporters.
“The fans here are amazing. So many memories of the fans. The sendoffs, the parades, the Sundays. Whatever the situations are, the letters of support, seeing the fans away from here at a gas station or grocery store or wherever you bump into them. The Patriots fans here, and not just in New England but nationally and internationally as I’ve traveled. It’s amazing how far the arm reaches, as we saw this year in Germany. I’m so appreciative to the fans for all the support they’ve given me, my family, and this football team,” Belichick said.
Bill Belichick says “I’ll always be a Patriot”
“There are so many fond memories and thoughts that I think about the Patriots. I’ll always be a Patriot. I look forward to coming back here. But at this time we’re going to move on. I look forward and am excited for the future, but I’ll always be appreciative and supportive of Robert and what you’ve done for me.”
The two shook hands and Kraft then took the podium, saying he and Belichick met Wednesday and “mutually agreed to part ways, amicably.”
“Like a good marriage, a successful head coach-owner relationship requires a lot of work. I’m really proud our partnership lasted 24 years. I don’t think in the NFL there has been any other partnership that lasted longer and has been as productive as ours,” the owner said.
“Bill has taught me a lot over those years. And we had high expectations for what we could achieve together. I think we were the only ones to have those expectations. I think it’s safe to say that we exceeded them.”
Belichick chimed in, saying “We did” and Kraft responded, “Thanks to you.”
Robert Kraft calls Bill Belichick “greatest coach of all time”
“This is an emotional day to me. Some of my happiest moments were shared with my family during Bill’s tenure here. I recognize it’s also a very emotional day for most of our fans. As it represents an end of an era. One that will, hopefully, always be celebrated in this region,” Kraft told reporters.
“The man standing to my left brought the leadership and coaching skills that were needed to make this time of unprecedented success that we have had possible. Coach Belichick will forever be celebrated as a legendary sports icon here in New England, and I believe go in as a Pro Football Hall of Famer on the first ballot. Why? Because he is the greatest coach of all time,” Kraft said.
“Which makes this decision to part ways so hard. But this is a move we mutually agreed that is needed at this time. What Bill accomplished with us, in my opinion will never be replicated. The fact it was done in the salary cap and free agency era makes it even more extraordinary. I thank Coach Bill for his hard work and dedication. It will be difficult to see him in a cut-off hoodie on the sideline. But I will always wish him continued success, unless he’s playing our beloved Patriots.”
Kraft then joked, “He’s got a cold so I’m not going to kiss him.” Afterwards, the owner reached out and hugged Belichick before both left the stage together for the final time as Patriots.
Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft hug briefly at Gillette Stadium, Thursday, January 11, 2024.
CBS BOSTON
How Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft agreed on the end
ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Mike Reiss reported that both sides “spent a good part of this week periodically meeting and discussing how each side wanted to proceed. From sources familiar with those conversations, there was said to be no conflict, no disagreement, and in the end, productive talks resulted in a mutual decision that left both sides comfortable and at ease.”
“Belichick, who had one year remaining on his contract, will be allowed to leave the team without the Patriots seeking compensation,” Schefter and Reiss wrote.
Watch: What’s next for Patriots after parting ways with Bill Belichick?
“There’s a surreal feeling down here,” Reiss told WBZ-TV’s Steve Burton on Thursday morning from Gillette Stadium. “There’s certain days you walk into the facility and it feels different, almost like the ground is shifting under your feet. The sense was that it was going to end this way, but you never knew if maybe there was a chance it could turn at the last minute. I think we said it Steve, after the game, like a Hail Mary type situation. Didn’t make it there. After 24 years, I think both sides feel like a fresh start is the best thing for both of them.”Read More
