Bill Belichick reportedly thought he had an NFL head coach job locked up this offseason, but a call from Robert Kraft may have gone a long way in sabotaging the coach’s chances.
On Wednesday, ESPN published a lengthy report into Belichick’s failed bid to secure a head coaching job this offseason after parting ways with the New England Patriots. ESPN dove deep into why Belichick’s prospects with other teams didn’t pan out, particularly with the Atlanta Falcons.
ESPN reports that the Patriots chairman “was a big part” of why Falcons chairman Arthur Blank chose to pass on Belichick. The report notes that Blank “considers Kraft his closest friend” among NFL owners. So it was damning when ESPN reported that “Robert called Arthur to warn him not to trust Bill.”
Another source told ESPN that Kraft “found Bill to be extremely difficult and obstinate and kind of stubborn and, in the end, not worthy of his trust. And also very, very, very arrogant.” Patriots spokesperson Stacey James told ESPN that Kraft “steadfastly denies saying anything negative” to Blank and the Falcons.
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Belichick, who turned 72 earlier this week, is 15 wins away from breaking the NFL all-time wins record held by Don Shula. However, his job prospects appear to be stuck in the mud, despite leading the Patriots to six Super Bowl victories.
The Patriots achieved unprecedented success during Belichick’s run with Tom Brady as quarterback. However, New England’s struggles in recent seasons have called Belichick’s prospects moving forward into question. There’s also the question of Belichick’s coaching style. The longtime coach’s resume is unencroachable. However, there are concerns about whether he legendarily gruff demeanor and draconian leadership model can succeed in the modern NFL.
Belichick and the Patirots parted ways shortly after the team finished 4-13 in 2023. Since then, both sides have spoken positively about each other. But as time has gone on, details about the friction between the two sides has continued to leak out.
