Patriots Country

Overdue Bill: Patriots Belichick on Kraft's 'Hot Seat’?

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has seen his share of struggles over the past few seasons, but are they enough to land him in the crosshairs of owner Robert Kraft?

Mike D'Abate

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FOXBORO — New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick has long been considered one of the most successful at his profession across the vast landscape of organized team sports. 

Winning six Super Bowl championships, as well as becoming a three-time Coach of the Year, are just some of the accolades which Belichick has collected. In fact, the ‘HC of the NEP’ is a mere 19 victories away from becoming the winningest head coach in NFL history. 

However, might a recent run of struggles — culminating with the team’s failure to sign coveted free-agent receiver DeAndre Hopkins — land the esteemed coach in hot water for 2023? 

Patriots insider Tom E. Curran of NBC Sports Boston believes that the 71–year-old is not only “on the hot seat” heading into the upcoming season, but that his coaching chair has been heating up for the past few years.  

Curran’s report may seem jarring to some, who consider both Belichick and New England to be synonymous. However, it should come as little shock to those who understand the value with which team owner Robert Kraft holds winning. 

Until the departure of legendary franchise quarterback Tom Brady, success appeared to be a foregone conclusion in Foxboro. 

Still, the harsh reality is that the Patriots were once again on the outside of the AFC playoff picture at the conclusion of 2022. Having finished the season 8-9, losing three of their final four games for the second consecutive year, the Pats continued their struggles during a time of the season in which they were nearly unbeatable in the past. Since their victory in Super Bowl LIII to close out the 2018 season, New England has failed to qualify for the playoffs twice. For the two seasons in which they did make the playoffs, they were quickly ousted in the Wild Card round. Following Brady’s departure prior to the start of the 2020 season, the Pats are 25-26 overall.

"All of those together have [Kraft] very much going, 'Bill, what are we doing?” Curran recently said on NBC Sports Boston’s Arbella Early Edition. “So, yeah ... He's on watch."

During his subsequent appearance on "The Rich Eisen Show," Curran added that assistant coach Jerod Mayo, whom the Pats retained this offseason, may be next in line if the Patriots continue to struggle.

"If they look disorganized, dysfunctional and discipline's out the window, then they might say, 'That was a great run, but can you go upstairs and just watch Jerod coach next year?'" Curran told Eisen.

For all of his previous success, Belichick remains cognizant of his immediate need to guide the Pats back to their winning ways in short order. With the unsuccessful installation of assistant coach Matt Patricia as offensive play caller, as well as rumored tension with quarterback Mac Jones, Belichick is eager to put last season behind both him and the team. In addition to re-signing Mayo, the Pats hired offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien and offensive line coach Adrian Klemm to repair what had been a severely fractured offense. The Patriots also added receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and tight end Mike Gesicki to their stable of pass-catchers, hoping to infuse some much-needed athleticism into their repertoire.  

Yet, even with the odds seemingly stacked against him, betting against Belichick is likely an imprudent course of action.  

Over the past two-plus decades, the Patriots have routinely been one of the most disciplined, and fundamentally sound teams in the NFL. That starts at the top, with their head coach. Yet, following a tumultuous 2022 season for Belichick and his offensive coaching staff, he may need to return to basics to achieve his objective. 

The coaching veteran of six decades has a thirst for knowledge, which has made him the longest tenured head coach in the NFL today. In turn, it is his ability to put that knowledge into practice that sets him apart from his peers with an unparalleled effectiveness. Belichick is not afraid to impart his concepts with monotonous repetition, until it is ingrained deep into his players’ bones. His pupils will frequently practice basic hand techniques and foot placements. They will become experts on ways to bat down a pass, shed a blocker, or gain leverage. 

Simply put, they will do so until they get it right.  And, at the risk of sounding too blunt, they’d better. 

Though Kraft still has faith in his coach, another losing season in Foxboro appears to be untenable. In fact, the 82-year-old made that point clear after praising Belichick earlier this year. 

“I still believe in Bill,” Kraft said during a media appearance at March’s NFL annual meetings. “I think Bill is exceptional at what he does and I’ve given him the freedom to make the choices and do the things that need to be done. His football intellect and knowledge is unparalleled from what I’ve seen. Just when you talk to him, the small things analytically he looks at.

“But, in the end, this is a business. You either execute and win or you don’t. That’s where we’re at.”

With the start of the 2023 season fast approaching, Belichick is aware of the added scrutiny to which he will be subject in the coming months. Still, he is taking the proper steps to ensure his team is prepared for the task at hand with a sense of urgency, yet no panic. 

At least, not yet. 

Follow Mike D’Abate on Twitter @mdabateNFL and Listen/Subscribe to his daily podcast: Locked On Patriots

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Mike D'Abate
MIKE D'ABATE

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