Kraft Praises Belichick, But Now 'Our Job to Fix' Patriots

While New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft expressed his deep respect for Bill Belichick, he made it clear that parting ways with the legendary head coach was necessary.

FOXBORO — With Bill Belichick officially moving on from the Foxboro fold, the New England Patriots fate lies exclusively with Pats chairman Robert Kraft and team ownership. 

Just under two hours removed from announcing their "mutual and amicable parting of ways," the Pats' 82-year-owner fielded questions from the media regarding his feelings on the legendary coach, and the steps taken to arrive at their decision. 

Fashioning both himself and his family as the "custodians of this asset," Kraft was clear in expressing his belief that a change was needed for the best of his franchise. 

“I promise you, our family will be dedicated to doing the best we an to bring a winning team back," Kraft said. What’s gone on here the last 3-4 years isn’t what we want, and we have a responsibility to do what we can to fix it.”

Cred: Boston Globe

Following a 4-13 finish, Belichick’s future as Patriots coach and de facto general manager had fallen under serious doubt. New England missed the playoffs for the third time in the last four seasons. Additionally, the Patriots have finished last in the AFC East for the first time since 2000 — Belichick’s first season as Patriots coach. Their final effort in 2023 ended in a listless 17-3 loss to the New York Jets under snowy skies at Gillette Stadium in Week 18.

While some have reported that his decision to jettison the legendary coach may have been made as early as New England’s Week 10 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Frankfurt, Germany, Kraft chose to focus on the hard work Belichick continued to put in throughout the remainder of the season, despite the pursuant struggles. 

“You can’t be a fan when you have the responsibility of making strategic decisions” Kraft said when asked if he spoke with Belichick about parting ways during the season. “But I know he continued to work in the best interest of our team. And that’s what meant the most to me.” 

While Kraft ultimately decided that moving on from Belichick was the correct course of action, he refused to treat him as a commodity. After all, with Belichick under contract, the Pats could have attempted to trade him for draft capital. However, Kraft’s reverence for Belichick’s accomplishments puts him in rarefied air, alongside legendary quarterback Tom Brady. 

“That’s not something we wanted to do,” Kraft said. “I didn't think it was right for Tom [Brady], who gave us 20 years, and I don't think it was right for Bill."

Despite recent reports indicating that a return to New England was a distinct possibility, Kraft’s comments on Thursday afternoon appeared to invalidate such claims — even when Belichick was seemingly open to ceding a degree of control over team personnel. 

As a savvy businessman, Kraft knew that relinquishing authority to any extent is typically more problematic than helpful.  

“We thought about that, but it wouldn’t work in my opinion,” Kraft said. “Bill had a great deal of say in our operations, and I believed he earned it.

“But in every job,” he continued, “there needs to be a system of checks and balances. I don't know. So many games were close. Is it the coaching? The personnel? Something wasn’t quite right from where it was."

Before adjourning for the day, Kraft took one last opportunity to reflect on the past, present and future of his relationship with Belichick. 

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“We plan on honoring him eventually, Kraft declared. “It might be awkward to do that while he is still coaching. But, we hope to come together when the time allows.”

Still, the time had come where the union between Belichick and Kraft had run its course.

“We always had a great relationship. But in revisiting everything over the past few days … our relationship went to a new place … At this time, though, it was in our mutual interests to go our own way.”

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