New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft opened up about the firing of coach Bill Belichick during a recent appearance on “The Breakfast Club” podcast.
Belichick and the Patriots parted ways after 24 years in the organization. The coach led New England through an unprecedented run of success. He struggled in the post-Tom Brady era, however, as he made the playoffs only once in his four seasons without the legendary quarterback.
Belichick was also the de facto general manager for New England. He had a tremendous hand in building the Patriots’ dynasty from the ground up. Notable players like Devin McCourty, Rob Gronkowski, Julian Edelman and Dont’a Hightower were all drafted by Belichick.
Nevertheless, Kraft believed that it was time to part ways, and he expanded on that viewpoint in his sit-down interview.
“I kept him for 24 years. I didn’t enjoy having to fire him, but if you look at the press conference and how it happened, I tried to do it in a classy way,” said Kraft. “And what he did for us was great. People need to adapt and if they don’t…things can change. In life, it’s about getting good chemistry and trust. Our record the last three to four years wasn’t what I wanted.
“And I had given him so much power. He had full control over everything. And shame on me, I should’ve had some checks and balances better. But he had earned that right. But then the results weren’t there and if you’re in the sports business, you win or you lose. There’s no gray. And I hate losing.”
The firing of Belichick was a monumental time for the Patriots organization, as it officially represented a new direction for the team. Now, the Patriots are officially in rebuilding mode with Jerod Mayo and Eliot Wolf leading the charge.
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