Bill Belichick, Patriots Should Part Ways Amid Latest NFL Coaching, GM Rumors

Bill Belichick just completed his 24th season as the head coach of the New England Patriots, having been in that role since the 2000 NFL campaign. During that entire time, he's also operated as the franchise's general manager, leading the football operations department.

However, it could be time for the Pats to bring in a fresh face or two. That's because they went 4-13 during the 2023 season, their worst showing in Belichick's time at the helm.

It's possible Belichick's tenure in New England could soon be over, even though the 71-year-old didn't get fired (or traded) earlier this week. According to The Athletic's Jeff Howe, Patriots owner Robert Kraft met with Belichick on Monday to "discuss the direction of the franchise and whether Belichick will continue to be part of it." They're expected to meet again before a decision is made.

Last month, Howe reported that Kraft was learning toward parting with Belichick throughout the second half of the season. But that's not a given, considering the latest buzz coming out of New England.

Howe's sources "haven't dismissed the possibility Kraft could change his mind if Belichick delivers a strong plan for the future." That's why the meetings between the two could have a large impact on the Patriots' final decision.

But the decision should be relatively simple: New England should go in a different direction at what could be a turning point for a team needing to start a new era.

Belichick's Patriots haven't performed nearly as well since their 20-year relationship with quarterback Tom Brady ended after the 2019 season. New England has reached the playoffs only once since, and it has finished with a losing record in three of the past four years.

Not only that, but the Pats no longer have a franchise quarterback to build around. Mac Jones, a first-round draft pick in 2021, was a Pro Bowler as a rookie, but he struggled this season, throwing more interceptions (12) than touchdown passes (10) before getting benched after 11 starts.

New England owns the No. 3 pick in the 2023 draft, and it could have an opportunity to land a new franchise QB. If the Chicago Bears are open to dealing the No. 1 selection, the Patriots could even trade up and take USC quarterback Caleb Williams.

If not, the Pats will likely consider other QBs such as North Carolina's Drake Maye, LSU's Jayden Daniels or Washington's Michael Penix Jr., depending on who is available for them to take.

Even if Belichick returns for the 2024 season, he's nearing the end of his coaching career. So why not go ahead and replace him now, bringing in a new GM to maneuver the offseason and a new head coach to work with the incoming young players?

At the least, New England should hire a general manager to work above Belichick, taking away a chunk of his responsibilities. He even said he's open to such a move earlier this week.

Belichick will go down as a legend in Patriots lore, having led them to the first six Super Bowl championships in franchise history. They've never had a coach as successful as him.

That's why it will be hard for New England to move on, especially if Belichick isn't quite ready to go. But it makes the most sense for the Patriots at this critical juncture, and they should ideally come to that decision before too much more of the early offseason has passed.