End of an Era: Bill Belichick and Patriots to part ways
- Thread starter RedOctober3829
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It is a sad day, even if this ends up being the right move. Thanks to BB for all the joy and wins over the years. I hope he continues to achieve the outstanding success he had throughout his time in New England.
Wow—more bummed than I thought I’d be. I just hope there’s a solid plan in place to rebuild the coaching and personnel staffs. Bill is the GOAT.
Absolutely the right move even if it’s one step back to move two steps forward. Thanks Bill for 24 mostly great seasons.
What a run it’s been. I think it was time, but he and Brady did things that are probably never going to be equaled by anyone else. It’s been an absolute joy to watch this team, but I’m also ready for what comes next.
It's been a privilege. Drinks are always on the house. I'm excited for what's next.
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39285303/bill-belichick-leaving-patriots-24-seasons-sources-say
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39285303/bill-belichick-leaving-patriots-24-seasons-sources-say
I’m a bit surprised. I thought it was gonna happen earlier. I figured if he was still here Wednesday, he was staying. I have the same sentiments you all have. Sad and grateful.
Glad to see they‘re not trying to hold him hostage for a 2nd rounder. He’s got 2 or 3 years left to go coach ATL or whoever, let him get to it, and turn the page for the Patriots.
To me there is no reason to hold him hostage for any compensation. The 6 super bowls are enough for me. Don’t get petty and burn bridges over dumb compensation. I’m happy they are just breaking ties and not playing that game.
Wow, hard to see that headline in spite of all the speculation this season. It's been a great run and an amazing time to be a Pats fan. Curious to see where he lands and how much gas a coach in his 70s has left in the tank.
You knew it was going to happen eventually - just wish it wasn’t like this.
The man helped bring me 20+ of the best sports fan years of my life.
The man helped bring me 20+ of the best sports fan years of my life.
Wow, knew it was coming but unbelievable the time has arrived. I never thought adjusting Bill's role would work after being entrenched so long and would to more long-term acrimony, so am glad it is a clean break if nothing else.
And you know what, I'm glad the Kraft's are going to be accountable for the next coaching/GM decisions as opposed to saying 5 years from now "well Bill's hand-picked successors didn't work out."
And you know what, I'm glad the Kraft's are going to be accountable for the next coaching/GM decisions as opposed to saying 5 years from now "well Bill's hand-picked successors didn't work out."
Looks like they talked about changes. Just couldn’t figure out a structure to work.
View: https://twitter.com/dakrandall/status/1745418640344723834?s=46&t=WQi6iqIXzyd2nQDr6B-03Q
View: https://twitter.com/dakrandall/status/1745418640344723834?s=46&t=WQi6iqIXzyd2nQDr6B-03Q
Everything ends. A sad day, even if it might be necessary. Think most of us knew it was coming even if we didn’t want to believe. Thanks for everything, Coach, hard to believe all that was accomplished.
I always thought this was the most likely outcome, and probably the right call by Kraft I think. But it is still a very sad day. Thanks for everything Bill.
I just hope they run a true process to find a new GM/Coach and don’t just hand the job to a Bill disciple. I’d rather a clean break.
In terms of Bill, what can you say? The GOAT, nobody else is ever going to win 6 Lombardis as a Head Coach. I hope he catches Shula.
I just hope they run a true process to find a new GM/Coach and don’t just hand the job to a Bill disciple. I’d rather a clean break.
In terms of Bill, what can you say? The GOAT, nobody else is ever going to win 6 Lombardis as a Head Coach. I hope he catches Shula.
They definitely need to run a real search and interview multiple candidates from all over the league. I do want a GM hiring the coach and hope they go that route because you can get the ball rolling on that.
It seems like Vrabel, Arthur Smith, and Mayo as the DC with a younger GM is the obvious plan, doesn’t it?
It was time. There was no need to fight over the dishes and piss off the family. BB is arguably on the Mt Rushmore of coaches and has earned the right to play out the last years on his terms.
Finding his replacement will not be easy.
Finding his replacement will not be easy.
I sort of expected it, but it still makes me sick to my stomach. This league is littered with mediocre coaches, year after year.
A large pizza and a pitcher of beer on me if I run into him at a restaurant. Took a team that had been a laughingstock from Day 1 of existence, basically until he arrived here, into being one of the greatest dynasties of sports, ever.
Would like to see him and Tommy reunite somewhere for one more season just to see what happens.
Would like to see him and Tommy reunite somewhere for one more season just to see what happens.
The news is shocking even though it was (mostly) expected. But it was going to happen within the next couple of years, anyway, even if they were still a top team. Will anxiously await who comes next.
I am extremely sad. Results aside this year, it's truly an end of an era that gave me countless hours of joy and thrill.
I'll be rooting for BB's next team no matter what.
I'll be rooting for BB's next team no matter what.
Schefter just replaced “Brady” with “Belichick” from
his piece when Tommy and the Pats split up.
I’ve always said I wanted Bill to keep coaching the Patriots because football is more interesting with him coaching my team.
Football just got less interesting.
Football just got less interesting.
This is how I feel. Even if every other HC in the league was suddenly a free agent, there’s only a handful I’d consider bringing in no questions asked.
And Pete Carroll.
The aughts are officially over. What a crazy run of long time monsters leaving.
I have to say I did expect this only because of Bill's age. But it's still shocking. It's been a very long time, with the highest peaks in the history of the NFL. Thank you Bill.
I think this is an incredible mistake and I like this team less than I did for the time being than I did before I woke up today.
Sadly I feel the same. I just really really hate this and feel like it was a bad call like ditching red Auerbach.
Yeah, he might not be the biggest bust in Patriots history, but he's the most significant by a mile.
I'm in mourning. What a privilege it was to be front and center to the best run the sports world will ever see.
Bill was the coach that changed the Patriots from a perpetual disappointment into the most dominant two decades any NFL team had ever seen. It seems like the long term coaching stops never seem to end well, and the last few seasons haven’t been great, but that doesn’t take away from completely changing how the Patriots were viewed. Good luck to BB in the future and I hope the Pats go with a clean slate and start over, just like Dallas did when they brought in Jimmy Johnson.
It’s just starting to hit home, and I have the chills. Intellectually, I knew it had to happen, but am just beginning to understand the emotional impact. This marks the end of a most remarkable era in sports for any city, unlikely to be repeated again.
This does bear the earmark of how Bob Kraft prefers to handle things, a negotiated, respectful parting of the ways without drama. The roster is a mess (no need to rehash that) and the next GM has a major rebuild in front of him.
This does bear the earmark of how Bob Kraft prefers to handle things, a negotiated, respectful parting of the ways without drama. The roster is a mess (no need to rehash that) and the next GM has a major rebuild in front of him.