'I'll always be a Patriot,' Bill Belichick says as he and Robert Kraft announce mutual parting

FOXBORO – Bill Belichick is done as head coach of the New England Patriots, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll be away from the NFL for long.

Thursday’s early announcement that Belichick and the Patriots parted ways wasn’t shocking news, especially coming off the disaster that was last season. The news conference that took place at Gillette Stadium on Thursday afternoon was right out of the Belichick playbook. He and Patriots owner Robert Kraft spoke about how the decision was mutual, how great the run was and, after nine minutes and 15 seconds, ended the announcement without taking a question from the media but instead shared an awkward hug. This, after 24 years, would be the parting of the two men who changed football forever in New England.

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“There’s so many fond memories and thoughts when I think about the Patriots. I’ll always be a Patriot,” Belichick said. “I look forward to coming back here and we’re going to move on and I look forward to and I’m excited for the future.”

Belichick didn’t give any indication as to whether his return to Foxboro would be as honored guest or opposing coach. He spent most of his four minutes and 52 seconds at the mic – where he wore a blue and grey patterned sports coat with brown dress pants instead of the traditional Patriots’ hoodie – thanking everyone from the Krafts to his family to players to assistant coaches and the fans, but never once gave a hint as to what his next step would be.

If Belichick was trying to keep his future a secret, Kraft gave away at least a part of it. While it’s impossible to guess where Belichick could end up – Atlanta, Carolina, Las Vegas, Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle, Tennessee and Washington currently have openings – Kraft made it seem like Belichick’s return to an NFL sideline will certainly be happening somewhere soon.

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“I thank coach Bill for his hard work and dedication,” Kraft said. “It will be difficult to see him in a cutoff hoodie on the sideline, but I will always continue to wish him continued success – except when he’s playing our beloved Patriots.”

Both Belichick and made Kraft talked about the decision to part ways being mutual after six Super Bowl wins, 10 Super Bowl appearances and changing baseball-loving New England’s sports religion to football.

Kraft said the two met Wednesday and agreed to part amicably. With Belichick pal Nick Saban announcing his own departure from Alabama on Wednesday, it makes sense that the Patriots waited until Thursday to make this announcement.

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Belichick spoke first and with the same kind of emotion he showed after games, speaking matter-of-factly. Belichick was professional, saying all the things a coach is supposed to say after having the type of success he had in Foxboro.

“For me this is a day of gratitude and celebration,” Belichick said. “Starting with Robert and his family, it’s great, so much thanks for the opportunity to be head coach for 24 years. It’s an amazing opportunity, received tremendous support.

“We had a vision of building a winner, building a championship football team here and we exceeded my wildest dreams and expectations with the success we were able to achieve together.”

“Bill has taught me a lot over those years," Kraft said. "We had high expectations for what we could achieve together. I think we were the only ones who had those expectations,” he said, drawing a smile and a “We did” from Belichick. “I think it’s safe to say we exceeded them, thanks to you.”

In typical Belichick fashion, the coach didn’t take credit for success of the franchise that he pulled from the doldrums of irrelevance – both locally and nationally – and into the world-wide spotlight.

“Players win games in the NFL, and I’ve been very, very fortunate to coach some of the greatest players who have ever played, some of the greatest players who have ever played for the Patriots and are already in the Hall of Fame and many more that will go in,” Belichick said. “Regardless of how long the players were or weren’t here, or what their role was, or how many years they played and if they didn’t win championships, I respect the players who come to work here on a daily basis. All of them.”

Later in the day, Kraft took questions from the media and, while the tone of what was said earlier in the day didn’t completely change, he did offer some insight as to how things unfolded and why the team is now in need of a new general manager and head coach.

The simple answer is wins. Belichick isn’t being let go as head coach just because of this season. The decision to part ways is a direct result of what has happened over the last four seasons. For Kraft, the decision was rooted in business and not one he was going to make on a whim.

“I have a saying when I’m making important decisions," Kraft said. "I try to measure nine times and cut once, because you want to be sure. This is one of those times – we went through the season we went through, which is three seasons like this, and you realize how capable [Belichick] is and you try and understand why you wound up where you are.

“It’s just something that was best; we each moved on, and I think that’s what the last three, four days of taking the time allowed us to do.”

Kraft was asked about how the Patriots went from winning Super Bowls to being a team that’s hoping to score with the third pick in the NFL Draft, one that could resuscitate the franchise. He said he wasn’t sure he was qualified to answer that question.

Some former players showed their appreciation for Belichick on social media.

Julian Edelman posted a video clip of himself and Belichick after the Patriots’ Super Bowl win over the Seahawks and captioned it “Wouldn’t change a thing coach.” Patrick Chung posted photos of himself and Belichick over the years on X and said “Greatest ever. Thank you for everything. Me, my family, my son. Shaping me into a football player and a man. Love you.”

Devin McCourty posted a clip of Tony Dungy talking about Belichick and instead of using words to caption his post, just used goat emojis.

Richard Seymour agreed, posting “the greatest football mind to ever live” with a goat emoji punctuating the sentence. Current Patriots Devon Godchaux and Mack Wilson expressed similar sentiments.

On ESPN’s morning show “Get Up,” Tedy Bruschi said “Think of a wet towel … You take both of your hands and you wring that towel … That towel is the player. Bill Belichick are the hands that wring the water out. And that water is the talent of that player.”

Had Belichick lost the ability to get the most out of the player? If it was the case, Kraft certainly didn’t imply it when he spoke.

“Like a good marriage, a successful head coach-owner relationship requires a lot of hard work,” Kraft said, “and I’m proud our partnership lasted for 24 years.”

Belichick by the numbers

1 – Belichick is the only head coach in NFL history with seven seasons of 13-plus wins. George Seifert is next with three.

8 – Super Bowl wins. It includes two as an assistant with the New York Giants (1986, 1990) and six with the New England Patriots (2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016, 2018). He is the only head coach in NFL history with six Super Bowl victories.

12 – Conference titles, including three as an assistant.

13 – Seasons with 12 regular season wins, an NFL record.

17 – Division titles. It is the most by a head coach in NFL history. Belichick also owns the NFL record with 17 seasons of 11 wins in the regular season.

19 – Number of postseason berths as a head coach. It is tied with Hall of Famer Don Shula for the most all-time.

24 – Seasons as Patriots coach.

24 – Division titles as an assistant and head coach.

29 – Seasons as an NFL head coach.

31 – Playoff victories.

49 – Number of consecutive years Belichick has been a coach in some capacity in the NFL, a record.

302 – Regular-season wins. He is the third NFL coach in NFL history with 300 victories, joining Hall of Famers Shula (328) and George Halas (318).

333 – Total victories (regular season and playoffs combined). It is second only to Shula (347). Belichick is second with 266 regular-season wins with one team, trailing only Halas (318).

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft announce mutual parting as Patriots coach