NFL Insider Shares Strong Take on Likelihood Patriots Fire Bill Belichick After Week 18
Bill Belichick officially clinched his worst season as the coach of the New England Patriots this year, which has many wondering what his future holds. While some believe that the Patriots may choose to fire Belichick outright, that doesn’t appear to be in the cards, according to one NFL insider.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that of New England’s choices for what it will do with Belichick, straight up firing him doesn’t appear to be under serious consideration.
“Here actually are the scenarios: at some point Robert Kraft says ‘You know what, I’m just gonna move on’ and fires Bill Belichick,” he said “That seems, to me, highly, highly unlikely.”
Rapoport then mentions that two likelier scenarios include the two sides parting ways (though team could trade Belichick somewhere else for future draft capital) and shaking up the front office, allowing Belichick to focus more on coaching than personnel.
From The Insiders on #NFLPlus: Looking at the various options for #Patriots coach Bill Belichick and New England. One scenario involves bringing in a new GM -- no, Nick Caserio is not expected to return -- but there are several familar faces who potentially could. pic.twitter.com/NH29P3DZo3
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 5, 2024
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see them hire a new general manager in New England,” Rapoport said. “This one is, I would say, the biggest question going into Monday.”
If New England does decide to trade Belichick, the coach could be an option for a team like the Los Angeles Chargers, which needs a coach. If the Patriots decide to add a general manager, it would likely be an executive who has worked for the team previously.
Belichick has coached the Patriots for over two decades, leading New England to six Super Bowl titles. He currently has 302 victories as a head coach, which is third place all time and 26 wins behind Don Shula’s 328 for most all time.