Was it poor references that prevented six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick from getting another job this offseason? And did New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft warn his rivals not to trust the man who guided his team to nine AFC titles?
That is the crux of Wednesday’s ESPN report, which goes on to assert that Kraft talked Blank out of hiring Belichick despite the Falcons owner considering him to be a ‘living legend.’
Multiple sources spoke to the World Wide Leader about Kraft’s relationship with Belichick and how it may have impacted the former Patriots coach’s 2024 job search.
Belichick agreed to leave New England after the team’s 4-13 performance in 2023 – his 24th year at the helm. But even before his departure, Belichick’s relationship with Kraft was rumored to be frayed, even if the two seemed amicable at the coach’s outgoing press conference in February.
But when Blank came calling about Belichick, Kraft did not put in a good word for his former employee, according to one source, who says the billionaire ‘was a big part’ of the coach’s failed job hunt.
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Outgoing Patriots coach Bill Belichick (L) hugs owner Robert Kraft on January 11
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Jim Nantz interviews Tom Brady as Robert Kraft (far left) and Bill Belichick look on in 2017
One source claims Kraft told Blank that ‘you’ll never have a warm conversation with’ Belichick, which was a major issue for an owner who likes to create a family atmosphere, the report claims. Blank ultimately hired Raheem Morris at the urging of several team officials.
There was one potential issue with Belichick in Atlanta: His history of serving as the Patriots’ defacto general manager – something that has become uncommon.
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But according to ESPN, Belichick ‘pledged his willingness to co-exist with Falcons executives’ when speaking to Blank.
As ESPN reports, Belichick’s friction with Kraft was no secret in the NFL, where the two have become synonymous with Tom Brady’s illustrious career.
Another issue facing Belichick is his age and desire to continue coaching. The 72-year-old is just 15 wins shy of passing Don Shula for the NFL’s all-time record, and ESPN claims there is a belief around the league that he will only coach long enough to do just that before retiring.
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Falcons owner Arthur Blank speaks with Patriots owner Robert Kraft before a 2021 game
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie wasn’t necessarily looking to fire head coach Nick Sirianni, but still wondered to a confidant if it was worth inquiring about Belichick.
Then he had second thoughts.
‘You’ll have to start over again,’ the source told ESPN. ‘Who would replace him? He hasn’t had a good record of developing coaches. They were afraid that he’ll have changed everything and every person, and [then] you’ll be starting from scratch again. He didn’t demand those changes, but they felt like, if we hire him, we have to give everything to him and trust how he does it.’
Ultimately no team thought it was worth bringing on Belichick in 2024.
