Report suggests Patriots owner is not afraid to fire Bill Belichick
from Michael Gallagher, with YardBarker.com/www.yardbarker.com
Despite his perceived aura of invincibility, New England Patriots head coach (and general manager) Bill Belichick is at risk of losing his job if he doesn’t turn things around this season, per a report from Jeff Howe of The Athletic.
Following a two-game stretch that saw the Patriots lose by 30 or more points twice in the same season for the first time since Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994, Belichick’s seat appears to be dangerously hot.
“There’s a school of thought that suggests Bill Belichick has earned the right to go out on his own accord, that the architect of the greatest dynasty in NFL history can coach in New England as long as he chooses,” Howe wrote. “Kraft doesn’t subscribe to it.”
"If this was anybody else, you would be calling for his job"
—@RSherman_25 is asking if it's time for Bill Belichick to hang it up pic.twitter.com/v5mOjcQICn
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) October 10, 2023
Belichick is just 26-29 with one playoff appearance since the Pats moved on from Tom Brady following the 2019 season.
Brady’s replacement, Mac Jones, has regressed since a promising Pro Bowl rookie season, and he’s been benched each of the last two weeks. Jones is tied for the second-most interceptions (six), and he ranks nears the bottom of the league in passing yards (22nd), completion percentage (25th) and passer rating (31st).
Belichick’s big offseason move, the hiring of offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, also hasn’t paid off through five games. New England ranks 26th in total offense (287.4 yards per game) and has the worst scoring offense in the NFL (11 points per game).
For comparison, the Patriots were averaging 314.6 yards of total offense and scoring 21.4 points per game last season with Matt Patricia calling plays.
“Kraft has grown frustrated, if not downright angry, over this shortage of success, according to people close to the situation,” Howe continued. “…Based on their lack of execution in the first five games, there’s little evidence to suggest a marked turnaround is imminent. And Kraft has long since gotten sick of watching other teams’ highlights on his new scoreboard.”
Additionally, Sportkeeda’s Tony Pauline reported that “the consensus is Belichick won’t be the Patriots head coach in 2024.” Although, Pauline specified Belichick won’t be fired. The expectation is that the longtime head coach will “retire graciously.”