Let’s make one thing abundantly clear: Bill Belichick’s legacy is secure. Whenever he decides to hang up his headset, his cut-off hoodie, and stop grimacing at reporters’ basic questions like they just asked him the most offensive thing ever, he will be remembered as the greatest coach in NFL history. Bar none. He does not have to accomplish anything else. A resume with eight different Super Bowls (six with the New England Patriots) speaks for itself.
That race is over. Sorry, Vince Lombardi.
But as we watch Belichick’s modern Patriots bumble around to a 2-8 record this year, reality is really, really hard to ignore. It’s probably high time for the 71-year-old living legend to walk away from the game he so desperately loves. Because these Patriots are flat-out atrocious from top to bottom — imagine scoring six points against the Indianapolis Colts in an international showcase — and I’m not sure they will turn it around any time soon.
Seriously, as unbelievable as it might be, does this sound like a guy who has the answers? Not even close.
Bill Belichick on benching Mac Jones: "I just thought it was time for a change" pic.twitter.com/hXDZqxJMnC
— NBC Sports Boston's Patriots Coverage (@NBCSPatriots) November 12, 2023
I know the natural conclusion to Belichick continuing to coach is that he loves football more than anything. The man has partly established his legend by occasionally sharing random, enthusiastic diatribes about the nuances of special teams play. I’d go as far as to say that no one thinks about this beautiful, complicated, dangerous game as much as Belichick does. It’s why he’s so great and why he helped deliver the Patriots the greatest extended dynastic run in the sport’s history earlier this century.
But part of being great should be knowing when to walk away. I would’ve argued that the time to step down was when Tom Brady left New England — because that was the Patriots’ peak — but Belichick wanted another go at it. He wanted to make Mac Jones work (for a time, anyway) and continue winning with the running game and defense. Aside from a surprising 2021 campaign, that plan has blown up in Belichick’s face and in spectacular fashion.
The Patriots, who currently own one of the league’s worst records, will almost certainly be drafting a new quarterback (Caleb Williams? Drake Maye?) this April. An extended rebuild likely waits for one of pro football’s marquee franchises. Whoever is the architect of this product will probably have to rip out the studs and build from the ground up.
Does Belichick, in his early 70s, really want to run back this mess and try again? I have my doubts, and I’d worry about him if he did. He should be enjoying retirement, sailing around Nantucket, not worrying about seeing through the overhaul of an atrocious football team that needs a remodel everywhere.
There’s virtually zero chance the Patriots and owner Robert Kraft fire Belichick this offseason. He has done too much for the franchise to be publicly disrespected like that. The optics for an organization that has lost all of its goodwill from the Tom Brady era would be horrific in that scenario. But I would be shocked if we didn’t see a “mutual parting of ways” (a.k.a. Bill, we like you, but please go away). That is if Belichick doesn’t just retire outright.
Belichick is one of the finest minds and leaders football has ever seen. But that shouldn’t change his future. His Patriots head-coaching tenure should be referred to in the past tense soon.
Elsewhere in For The Win‘s Week 10 NFL awards, two old Ohio State pals enjoyed an awesome “sack reunion.” Meanwhile, Fox had an awesome way of reminding us a certain NFL quarterback is an astronaut.
Let’s dive in.