Head coach Bill Belichick reportedly mutually agreed with the New England Patriots to step down on Thursday.
It marks the end of the architect of one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history’s 24-year stint with the Pats, according to a source who spoke with theAssociated Press on condition of anonymity since the team has still not confirmed the information.
A press conference, which will include owner Robert Kraft and Belichick, is scheduled to take place on the matter later today.
Belichick, 71, became only the third head coach in league history to reach 300 regular-season wins earlier this season. He then joined Don Shula and George Halas in this exclusive group. Belichick, who has 333 victories if we count those in the playoffs, ranks second in history in this regard behind Shula (347).
The Pats, however, finished the campaign with a 4-13 record, the worst of Belichick’s 29-season career as head coach. It surpassed the 5-11 mark he recorded in his final season with the Cleveland Browns in 1995, and again in 2000 in his first season with the Patriots. Taking the playoffs into account, he ends his stay with the Pats with a record of 333-178.
Belichick, who made his trademark cut-sleeve T-shirts and sweatshirts, joined star quarterback Tom Brady to lead the Pats to six Super Bowls, nine conference titles American and 17 section championships in 19 years. During his somewhat less glorious — and quite tumultuous — time with the Browns, Belichick recorded 37 wins.
It is not yet known who was chosen by Kraft to succeed the eventual member of the Football Hall of Fame.
Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo won a Super Bowl under Belichick, and he has applied for numerous head coaching vacancies since being named an assistant with the Patriots in 2019. Mayo turned down a few offers last season before accepting a contract extension from New England.
Mike Vrabel, who was fired earlier this week by the Tennessee Titans and won three Super Bowls with the Pats, is expected to be one of the candidates for the job.
Belichick was grooming offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to replace him before McDaniels left after the 2021 season to lead the Las Vegas Raiders. He has since been fired by the Raiders. Belichick’s two sons, Steve and Brian, are also on the coaching staff.
Belichick’s six Super Bowl victories allowed him to join his mentors, Halas and Curly Lambeau, for the most in history. Belichick also won two Super Bowl rings as defensive coordinator under Bill Parcells with the New York Giants.
The Patriots, however, have gone 29-38 since Brady left the team after the 2019 season, and they have missed the playoffs three of four times since that time. Beginning in 2001, when Brady became the Foxborough-based club’s starting quarterback, the Patriots missed the playoffs only once. It was 2008, when Brady was injured. In addition, the Patriots have not won a playoff victory for the fifth straight season.
Meanwhile, every solution Belichick considered to replace Brady has failed. Which could have led to the announcement of his departure on Thursday.