Some close to New England Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick are reportedly worried that 2023 could be his last with the organization.
Belichick led the Patriots to nine Super Bowl appearances and six Lombardi Trophies over a 17-year span from 2002 to 2018. But the Pats haven’t won a playoff game in four consecutive years now, and they’ve suffered losing seasons in two of the past three years.
Amid reports of tension between Belichick, quarterback Mac Jones and owner Robert Kraft, Ben Volin of The Boston Globe reports that some of Belichick’s friends are worried that his job could be in jeopardy:
“Robert Kraft already made it clear in March that he wants the Patriots to make the postseason and win a playoff game for the first time in five years. He also paid Jerod Mayo handsomely to keep him off the coaching market and likely views him as the team’s coach-in-waiting. And Belichick’s friends have privately said they are worried that he is on the hot seat in 2023.”
Last week, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio also opined that Belichick may be on the hot seat given some previous comments from Kraft.
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Details of Belichick’s contract have always been kept secretly within the walls of Patriot Place. If Belichick’s contract were close to expiring, it would be easy for him and Kraft to “part ways” in a cleaner fashion if the two sides ultimately decide to go that route.
Belichick and Kraft have enjoyed unprecedented success together, but nobody is untouchable in the NFL. Kraft reluctantly let Tom Brady go. Jerry Jones fired two Hall of Fame head coaches and multi-time Super Bowl champions in Tom Landry and Jimmy Johnson, after all.
Kraft might not even have to fire Belichick. For all we know, the six-time Super Bowl champion would be keen in leaving on his own terms, should tensions between the two continue to arise.
Of course, the Patriots can put all of this speculation to rest if they get back to the thing that once defined The Patriot Way: Winning.
