Bill Belichick leaving Patriots after 24 seasons and six Super Bowl titles, say reports

Bill Belichick, who led the New England Patriots to a record six Super Bowl titles, will leave the team Thursday after 24 seasons. according to ESPN.

Belichick’s future has been speculated for some time after the Patriots fell to a 4-13 record in 2023, their worst season during his time with the team.

ESPN reports that conversations between Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft about the coach’s future took place this week and were cordial. They concluded with Belichick and the team saying their mutual goodbyes.

The 71-year-old is one of the greatest head coaches in NFL history and, in terms of Super Bowl titles, the most successful. However, since Tom Brady left the team in 2020, the Patriots have just had a winning season, reached the playoffs once and have struggled to find a replacement at quarterback.

Belichick has not indicated he plans to retire. He has been linked to the vacant head coaching positions with the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Chargers.

Two former Patriots linebackers, Jerod Mayo and Mike Vrabel, are the leading candidates to replace Belichick. Mayo spent some time on Belichick’s staff with the Patriots, while Vrabel left his role as head coach of the Tennessee Titans earlier this week.

News of Belichick’s departure comes a day after two of his head coaching contemporaries, Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks and Nick Saban of the Alabama College Football program, left their roles.