The New England Patriots are parting ways with head coach and de facto GM Bill Belichick after 24 years, ending one of the most successful eras in NFL history, according to multiple reports.
Belichick — alongside Tom Brady — led the Patriots to six championship wins and nine Super Bowl appearances. However, after Brady departed to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, the Patriots entered a downward spiral, missing the playoffs in three of the next four seasons and bottoming out with a 4-13 record in 2023.
Belichick, 71, will now have to decide whether he wants to continue his career with another team or enter into retirement. His coaching career began in 1975 and has lasted 49 consecutive years.
The move comes on the heels of several other big-name football coaches stepping down or being removed, including Mike Vrabel (Tennessee Titans), Pete Carroll (Seattle Seahawks) and Nick Saban (University of Alabama).
Sunday’s loss to the New York Jets also marked the 178th of Belichick’s career, including the playoffs, tying him with Tom Landry for the most ever.
However, during his time as a Patriot, Belichick was mostly known for winning.
Belichick leaves the Patriots with 333 career victories, 14 wins shy of equaling Hall of Fame coach Don Shula’s all-time record of 347, including the playoffs.
It was a difficult season for the Patriots, but Belichick has insisted he still wants to remain on the sidelines.
“No, I enjoy coaching. Disappointing season. … That’s how I feel,” Belichick said Sunday. “The results weren’t good. None of us were happy with those.”
The Patriots are now the eighth NFL team with a vacancy at head coach.
