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The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft feud over Patriots coaching change
The evidence suggests that the parting was far from mutual, however, with repeated sparring in the media following the bitter divorce. Belichick renewed the war again on July 16 in a statement to ESPN. "As I told Robert multiple times through the years, I took a big risk by taking the New England Patriots head coaching job," Belichick told ESPN. "I already had an opportunity to be the head coach of the New York Jets, but the ownership situation (there) was unstable." The coach claimed he was urged to remain with the Jets, rather than accept the job in New England. "I had been warned by multiple previous Patriots' coaches, as well as other members of other NFL organizations and the media, that the New England job was going to come with many internal obstacles," Belichick said. "I made it clear that we would have to change the way the team was managed to regain the previously attained success." The statement, which seemingly came out of left field, was in apparent response to something Kraft had said a week earlier on the "Dudes on Dudes" podcast with former Patriots, Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski. Kraft was asked to name his best decision as owner and responded by talking about Belichick - appearing to indicate that hiring the coach was the answer. "Well, the one that got questioned the most was in '99," Kraft said. "I gave up a No. 1 draft pick for a coach who had only won a little over 40% of his games. But getting Bill Belichick to come to the Patriots in 1999 was a big risk, and I got hammered in the Boston media. But he was with us for 24 years, and we did OK." Belichick seems to have taken issue with being called a "big risk" by Kraft, but the owner isn't wrong. Trading a first-round pick for a coach with a 36-44 record was far from a safe move. New England took a leap of faith, knowing they could've handed a top draft pick over to a bitter rival in their own division. It was the latest chapter in a saga that already saw Belichick omit Kraft from his book and an Apple TV documentary about the Patriots, which portrayed the coach as the bad guy. The duo went on to experience 24 years of success together, something neither side wants to let go of now. Recent history shows that they were better off together anyway. Kraft's Patriots fired Belichick's successor, Jerod Mayo, after one season with a 4-13 record. Belichick, on the other hand, has become unrecognizable in his post-Patriots life. Between various media appearances and the ongoing circus surrounding his relationship with 24-year-old Jordon Hudson, the 73-year-old is far from the person NFL fans knew for over two decades. Now Belichick is in the college ranks, set to make his debut as the head coach at the University of North Carolina in the fall. It's his latest attempt to move on in his football life, while trying to prove he can still coach at a high level. Once known for his cut-up hoodies and intimidating sideline demeanor, the ruler of the "Evil Empire" could've opted to walk away and ride into the sunset to await his moment of enshrinement at the Hall of Fame. Belichick ran his Patriots teams on the idea that they would move on from players a year early, rather than a year late. That seems to be the same concept Kraft employed to move on from the long-time coach. The previous unflappable, stoic coach finally met his match. And he's not going down without a fight. All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.
USA Today
7 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft continue feud over Patriots coaching exit
Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft are waging their war in the court of public opinion – and neither side is winning. It has been less than two years since Belichick departed his post as the New England Patriots head coach after winning six Super Bowls in what's considered to be arguably the NFL's best dynasty. At the time, it was billed as a mutual parting of ways. The evidence suggests that the parting was far from mutual, however, with repeated sparring in the media following the bitter divorce. Belichick renewed the war again on July 16 in a statement to ESPN. 'As I told Robert multiple times through the years, I took a big risk by taking the New England Patriots head coaching job,' Belichick told ESPN. 'I already had an opportunity to be the head coach of the New York Jets, but the ownership situation (there) was unstable." The coach claimed he was urged to remain with the Jets, rather than accept the job in New England. 'I had been warned by multiple previous Patriots' coaches, as well as other members of other NFL organizations and the media, that the New England job was going to come with many internal obstacles," Belichick said. "I made it clear that we would have to change the way the team was managed to regain the previously attained success.' The statement, which seemingly came out of left field, was in apparent response to something Kraft had said a week earlier on the "Dudes on Dudes" podcast with former Patriots, Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski. Kraft was asked to name his best decision as owner and responded by talking about Belichick – appearing to indicate that hiring the coach was the answer. "Well, the one that got questioned the most was in '99," Kraft said. "I gave up a No. 1 draft pick for a coach who had only won a little over 40% of his games. But getting Bill Belichick to come to the Patriots in 1999 was a big risk, and I got hammered in the Boston media. But he was with us for 24 years, and we did OK." Belichick seems to have taken issue with being called a "big risk" by Kraft, but the owner isn't wrong. Trading a first-round pick for a coach with a 36-44 record was far from a safe move. New England took a leap of faith, knowing they could've handed a top draft pick over to a bitter rival in their own division. It was the latest chapter in a saga that already saw Belichick omit Kraft from his book and an Apple TV documentary about the Patriots, which portrayed the coach as the bad guy. The duo went on to experience 24 years of success together, something neither side wants to let go of now. Recent history shows that they were better off together anyway. Kraft's Patriots fired Belichick's successor, Jerod Mayo, after one season with a 4-13 record. Belichick, on the other hand, has become unrecognizable in his post-Patriots life. Between various media appearances and the ongoing circus surrounding his relationship with 24-year-old Jordon Hudson, the 73-year-old is far from the person NFL fans knew for over two decades. Now Belichick is in the college ranks, set to make his debut as the head coach at the University of North Carolina in the fall. It's his latest attempt to move on in his football life, while trying to prove he can still coach at a high level. Once known for his cut-up hoodies and intimidating sideline demeanor, the ruler of the "Evil Empire" could've opted to walk away and ride into the sunset to await his moment of enshrinement at the Hall of Fame. Belichick ran his Patriots teams on the idea that they would move on from players a year early, rather than a year late. That seems to be the same concept Kraft employed to move on from the long-time coach. The previous unflappable, stoic coach finally met his match. And he's not going down without a fight. All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY's 4th and Monday newsletter.
USA Today
17-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL world reacts to reignited Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft beef
Don't know what's nuttier, Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick's petty beefs, or Creepy Hood playing "punch buggy" online with his gf. All was quiet on the Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft front for a little while. It only took a Kraft appearance on a podcast hosted by New England Patriots greats Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman to pour gasoline on a fire that looked to be on the verge of going out. When appearing on Dudes on Dudes, the Patriots' owner noted that he took a "big risk" in hiring Belichick considering it cost the team a first-round draft pick for a coach who "won a little over 40 percent of his games in 1999." That obviously didn't sit right with the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach, who issued a response via ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr. "As I told Robert multiple times through the years, I took a big risk by taking the New England Patriots head coaching job," Belichick said. "I already had an opportunity to be the Head Coach of the New York Jets, but the ownership situation was unstable." Belichick continued, "I had been warned by multiple previous Patriots' coaches, as well as other members of other NFL organizations and the media, that the New England job was going to come with many internal obstacles. I made it clear that we would have to change the way the team was managed to regain the previously attained success." Kraft moved on from Belichick in January 2024 after the Patriots suffered back-to-back losing seasons, including a 4-13 finish in 2023. The ending to a 24-year working relationship filled with as much success as Kraft and Belichick experienced wasn't ideal. However, both sides initially seemed to be moving in their own direction. Belichick is now serving as the head coach for the North Carolina Tar Heels, and Kraft has new hope for the future in New England after hiring Mike Vrabel as the new head coach. Here's what the NFL world is saying about the recent exchange between the two: With an unnecessary statement, Bill Belichick poured gas on the embers of his feud with Robert Kraft, unable to let even a casual compliment from Kraft go by without letting everyone know what a risk it was joining the BB's latest PR whiff: .@FelgerAndMazz dive into the newest addition in the saga Belichick vs. Robert Kraft: The story that never ends@IAmJamesStewart @TonyMassarotti @mikefelger @JoeyMurr @MaggioreKevin @FelgerAndMazz @kfabrizio985 Both Robert Kraft & Bill Belichick needed Tom Brady to elevate both of them historically. Ironic that once Brady finally left, the reputations of Kraft & Belichick have yet to recover Can we all agree that it took both Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick (+ a guy named Tom Brady) to build the New England Patriots dynasty?Would really love if these guys would just appreciate what they all accomplished together. 6 Super Bowls and countless memories. #NEPats Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft are not-so-subtly throwing jabs at each other in the media. @AthanHristodulu and @GeorgeBalekji sort out the drama and give their insight on what is the cause of the the full episode on NESN's YouTube Channel:… Does Robert Kraft want full credit for Bill Belichick's success?? We again ask, will there be Belichick statue? #nfl #Patriots @WEEI I don't understand why this is a absolutely took a "big risk" trading a first-round pick for Belichick, who flamed out with the a fact, not an opinion.I didn't need to hear from Belichick on Kraft: It was a risk to give up a first-round pick for a coach who hadn't accomplished much as a head coach, but I believed in him so I did it and it was It's at least a little surprising to see Bill Belichick go on the record to publicly push back on Patriots owner Robert Kraft's comments—since what he said on @Edelman11's podcast he's said a million times be the judge ... Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
Fox Sports
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Belichick Fires Back At Kraft For Saying Patriots Took 'Big Risk' In Hiring Him
Bill Belichick is pushing back on some recent comments made by Robert Kraft. After the Patriots' owner said that he took a "big risk" in hiring Belichick to be the team's head coach in 2000, the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach believes he also took a big risk in accepting an offer to become the team's head coach. "As I told Robert multiple times through the years, I took a big risk by taking the New England Patriots head coaching job," Belichick told ESPN. "I already had an opportunity to be the Head Coach of the New York Jets, but the ownership situation was unstable." The Patriots went through an unconventional process to hire Belichick in 2000. When they requested that the Jets allow them to interview Belichick that offseason, Bill Parcells stepped down from his post as New York's head coach and named the then-assistant head coach and defensive coordinator as his successor. However, Belichick resigned as the Jets' head coach a day later and eventually agreed to a deal to become the Patriots' head coach, but New England had to surrender a first-round pick to New York. Due to the compensation, along with Belichick's 36-44 record in his five seasons as the Cleveland Browns' head coach, Kraft recently told the "Dudes on Dudes" podcast (hosted by former Patriots stars Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski) that hiring Belichick was his most "questioned" decision since he became the team's owner in 1994. But he also mentioned Belichick's hiring when asked what his best decision has been as the Patriots' owner. "I gave up a No. 1 draft pick for a coach that had only won a little over 40% of his games to get him out," Kraft said on the podcast, which was filmed at "Fanatics Fest" in New York last month. "I don't know if there are any Jets fans here. I think getting Bill Belichick to come to the Patriots in 1999 was a big risk, and I got hammered in the Boston area, but he was with us for 24 years. "And we did OK," Kraft joked. While the Patriots won their first of six Super Bowls in Belichick's second season with the team, New England's former head coach indicated that New York was in a stronger on-field position at the time of his hiring in 2000. "The Jets were a solid team after three years of rebuilding under Bill Parcells, which included an AFC Championship Game appearance in [January] 1999," Belichick told ESPN. "Meanwhile, the Patriots Organization had dismantled their 1996 AFC Championship team and became one of the worst in the AFC. It didn't help that they were $10 million over the cap heading into my first season as Head Coach in 2000." Even though Belichick and Kraft enjoyed unprecedented success in their 24 years together, there has been some tension between the two since the head coach was let go in January 2024. In the Apple TV+ docuseries "The Dynasty," which covered the Patriots' dynasty run, Kraft called Belichick a "pain in the tush." Many also believed that the docuseries painted Kraft in a positive light, with former players criticizing it for being too negative on Belichick. In that same offseason, ESPN reported that Kraft warned Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank "not to trust" Belichick when the team was interviewing the former Patriots head coach for the same role. Adding to the tension, Kraft told "The Breakfast Club" in October 2024 that he had fired Belichick. Before that admission, the team had said that Kraft and Belichick mutually agreed to part ways. Belichick, who has since been hired by North Carolina to become its head coach, has largely avoided directly addressing Kraft's remarks since he was let go as head coach of the Patriots. He hasn't publicly commented on the report that Kraft influenced the Falcons not to hire him. But he made a joke about how he was portrayed in "The Dynasty" during the Roast of Tom Brady in May 2024 and has questioned Kraft's claim that the Patriots fired him. "It was a mutual decision for us to part ways," Belichick told CBS News in April. Belichick also snubbed Kraft in his recent book, "The Art of Winning: Lessons from My Life in Football," failing to mention his former boss once in the book's 289 pages and acknowledgements. "It's about my life lessons in football and it's really more about the ones that I experienced directly," Belichick said on why Kraft wasn't mentioned in the book in his interview with CBS News. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account , and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
USA Today
16-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bill Belichick comes back swinging in response to Robert Kraft comment
Former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick clearly had no intention of letting Patriots owner Robert Kraft's "big risk" comment slide. When appearing on the Dudes on Dudes podcast, Kraft claimed that hiring Belichick was his greatest move as an owner. However, he also noted that it was a big risk giving up a first-round draft pick for a coach who "won a little over 40 percent of his games in 1999." Belichick provided a response to ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr., with the six-time Super Bowl-winning coach contesting that he was the one who took the big risk. "As I told Robert multiple times through the years, I took a big risk by taking the New England Patriots head coaching job," Belichick said. "I already had an opportunity to be the Head Coach of the New York Jets, but the ownership situation was unstable." Belichick infamously wrote his resignation letter on a napkin after spending one day as the Jets' head coach. He viewed the Jets' football team as a solid situation, but it wasn't enough to cure his concerns for the ownership issues in New York at the time. The legendary coach claimed he was told beforehand that the job in New England had its own internal issues as well. "I had been warned by multiple previous Patriots' coaches, as well as other members of other NFL organizations and the media, that the New England job was going to come with many internal obstacles," Belichick said. "I made it clear that we would have to change the way the team was managed to regain the previously attained success." Belichick would go on to lead the Patriots to six Super Bowl titles, nine AFC Championship victories and 17 divisional titles. Kraft ultimately made the decision to move on from Belichick as the Patriots' head coach in January 2024, after the team suffered back-to-back losing seasons and a 4-13 record in 2023. It brought an end to a 24-year working relationship responsible for turning the Patriots into a historically great franchise. "I appreciated Robert giving me the opportunity to make those changes and build a program that was consistent with my vision for a championship team," Belichick told ESPN, per Van Natta Jr. Follow Patriots Wire on Twitter and Facebook.
