Robert Kraft reveals why he fired Bill Belichick

How do you fire the man who brought your franchise six Super Bowls in 24 years? In an appearance on iHeartRadio’s The Breakfast Club, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft discussed why the move to fire legendary coach Bill Belichick was a necessary move for New England.

Despite winning six Super Bowls and making nine over the 20 years both Belichick and Tom Brady were with the Patriots, Belichick lasted just four seasons with New England after Brady left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. New England went 267-94 in those 20 seasons, but from 2020-23 the Patriots went 29-38 behind Brady, with three losing seasons in four years.

“I kept it for 24 years,” Kraft said. I didn’t like firing him… I tried to do it gracefully. And what he did for us was great. People have to adapt and if they don’t…things can change.”

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Kraft claimed that Belichick would not be able to adjust to running the team without an elite quarterback like Brady. In the four seasons Belichick coached the Patriots without Brady, they started Cam Newton, Brian Hoyer, Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe at quarterback.

“Our record the last three or four years wasn’t what I wanted,” Kraft added. “And I had given him so much power. He was in total control of everything. And too bad, he should have had some better checks and balances … if you’re in the sports business, you either win or you lose. There’s no It’s gray and I hate losing.”

New England’s 4-13 record in 2023 was the final blow. That record was the worst the Patriots have had in Kraft’s tenure as owner, which began in 1994, though they could be worse this season. It marked the second straight season New England missed the playoffs, the first time the franchise has had a streak of that length since 1999-2000. Something had to change and Kraft decided to move on from Belichick.

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