Patriots, Bill Belichick parting ways after 24 seasons: reports

The New England Patriots and Bill Belichick are parting ways after 24 seasons and six Super Bowl championships together, according to multiple reports.

The reports trickled out Thursday amid a wild 24 hours in professional coaching, when fans saw Pete Carroll leave his post as Seattle Seahawks head coach and then Alabama football coach Nick Saban announce his retirement.

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Belichick and team owner Robert Kraft met over the course of the last few days to discuss the future, and those talks yielded no issues between the two, as well as a mutual decision that the time had come to end the reign, ESPN reported, citing sources.

Belichick reportedly had one year left on his contract. He noted his contact status with reporters asking about his future on Monday following the team’s season finale loss to the New York Jets.

"So, I'm under contract, do what I always do, which is every day I come in and work as hard as I can to help the team in whatever way I can," he said. "So, that's what I'm going to continue to do. 

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"Today was kind of a wrap-up day for us with the players, have a meeting with them and then go from there. So, as far as any decisions or direction or anything like that for next year, it's way too early for that."

Other reports said on Wednesday that it was business as usual for Belichick.

The Patriots announced a news conference for noon ET on Thursday. The Patriots did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

Belichick, 71, took over the Patriots job in 2000 after spurning the Jets at the last possible second. The team went 5-11 in his first season and missed the playoffs. However, Week 2 of the 2001 season changed the trajectory of his coaching tenure, the franchise and the entire NFL. Drew Bledsoe went down with an injury and Tom Brady started in his place.

Brady went on to lead the Patriots and help get Belichick six Super Bowl rings. The two dominated the NFL in two different eras before Brady went on to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Belichick was unable to build a similar team and only made the playoffs once since the legendary quarterback left.

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The Belichick era came with some controversy. A Patriots assistant was caught taping Jets defensive signals from an unapproved location. Belichick was fined $500,000 and docked a first-round draft pick. He took responsibility for the coach’s actions.

The Patriots were also penalized for "Deflategate." While Belichick was not reprimanded, Brady was suspended for four games.

Belichick wrapped up his career with the Patriots with a 266-121 record. His teams won 17 AFC East championships. The last four years were a little rougher as he made the playoffs in 2021 but finished under .500 in three of those seasons.

What is next for both sides is unclear. Belichick has been rumored to be a candidate for other coaching positions around the NFL, while a litany of former Patriots players and assistants could be in line for the opening.

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