NFL: Bill Belichick, Patriots Mutually Part Ways
The Facts
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft on Thursday announced a mutual parting of the ways, 24 years since Belichick’s hiring sent the Patriots on an unprecedented run of success.
Belichick's stint on the New England sidelines was the arguably greatest head-coaching run in National Football League (NFL) history, featuring 17 division titles, 13 appearances in conference championship games, nine Super Bowl appearances, and six Super Bowl championships.
The Spin
Narrative A
Like most legends of sport, Belichick couldn't keep the magic going, and now he's paid the ultimate price for his failure to recognize Brady's importance and retain the quarterback's services, and his inability to select the right talent for several years since Brady left. The game may have passed Belichick by as evidenced by too many recent fumbles both on the field and with the roster.
Narrative B
With more than a handful of NFL teams in the market for a new head coach, Belichick is sure to be in demand. Despite how things ended in New England, Belichick’s career resume speaks for itself, and his career is marked with points where he evolved to changes in the game. Assuming he wants to coach, he'll be on another sideline next fall — chasing Shula's mark to further accentuate his Hall of Fame career.
