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New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is reportedly on the hot seat, according to NBC Sports Boston’s Tom Curran.
During an appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show,” Curran confirmed the rumors surrounding Belichick’s tenuous position within the team as the 2023 season approaches.
Curran’s stated on Belichick, “He’s on the hot seat. And he’s been there at different levels of warmth since 2019,” reflecting the growing uncertainty surrounding Belichick’s future with the Patriots.
The team’s lack of success since the departure of Tom Brady in 2020, who went on to win a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has been a source of disappointment for Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
Kraft, known for his high standards and commitment to excellence, has publicly and privately expressed his dissatisfaction with the team’s performance. What is particularly noteworthy is that Kraft has harbored doubts about Belichick’s leadership since the 2019 season, despite their storied history of success together.
Curran shed light on the events that unfolded in the summer of 2019, a pivotal moment that strained the relationship between Belichick, Brady, and Kraft.
The report suggests that the fracture between the trio began when Brady was offered a two-year contract with a team option for the second year, instead of two years fully guaranteed like Saints Drew Brees received at the time.
It was during that time that frustration began to brew, leading Brady to eventually make the decision to leave the team at the end of the season in free-agency and later join the Buccaneers.
While this information may not be entirely new, as speculation about Belichick and Kraft’s relationship has been ongoing since Brady’s departure, its impact on the current state of the Patriots is significant.
Curran suggested that Kraft may keep Belichick around long enough for him to break the all-time wins record by an NFL head coach. Currently, Belichick is 19 games away from surpassing Don Shula, a feat that will not be achieved in the upcoming 2023 season.
The uncertainty surrounding Belichick’s future has generated intense speculation about the Patriots’ direction moving forward. As one of the most successful franchises in NFL history, the Patriots face a critical juncture in their trajectory, seeking to reclaim their dominance after a period of relative struggle.
The team’s performance in the 2023 season will likely play a crucial role in determining Belichick’s fate. If the Patriots fail to achieve the desired level of success, it may further undermine the head coach’s standing within the organization.