Patriots Playoff or Bust?: Belichick Hot Seat Scenarios

The rumors of New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick are at an all-time high ahead of this season as owner Robert Kraft expects the team to be in the playoffs.

The Bill Belichick "hot seat" rumors do not seem to be going anyway, at least anytime soon. Heading into his 23rd and potentially final season as the New England Patriots coach, the stakes for the future Hall-of-Fame coach have rarely been higher.

Belichick, arguably the greatest all-time football coach, is at risk of losing his job if the Patriots don't make the playoffs this season. These rumors come as Belichick's Tom Brady-less Patriots have made the postseason just once in three seasons since the legendary signal-caller departed Foxboro for Tampa. Sitting at home in January isn't acceptable for a franchise still intent on continuing their dynasty that won them six Super Bowl rings. 

In a recent interview on Colin Cowherd's "The Herd," Boston Globe reporter Ben Volin broke down some scenarios he believes could get Belichick the pink slip. Maybe to the surprise of some, it isn't exactly "playoff-or-bust" time for Belichick and the Patriots.

“Making the playoffs will make his life a lot easier. If they go 9-8 but miss the playoffs, I think he’s probably safe,” Volin said. “If they have a losing record again, if Mac Jones has another sideways season and the offense isn’t better, the team is boring again, I definitely think Belichick is on the hot seat and there’s a chance he doesn’t come back next year. Again, I think it would have to be a disastrous kind of season, but 7-10 and Mac is screaming at the coaches again — I definitely think that could happen."

So contrary to the beliefs of many, Volin doesn't see another 9-8 season from the Patriots being detrimental to Belichick's job security. Instead, as Volin puts it, the season must be a disaster for Patriots' owner Robert Kraft to pull the trigger on getting firing Belichick.

Belichick is just 18 wins away from tying Don Shula as the all-time winningest head coach, making the 2024 season a big one for him and his legacy. Yet, as Volin said, the Patriots won't risk another playoff-less season if Belichick doesn't improve on the field. 

Patriots fans have a good idea about where Kraft has drawn a line in the sand. The Patriots must either make the playoffs or look good not doing so for Belichick to stick around.

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