In the span of less than 24 hours, the Alabama Crimson Tide’s dynasty in college football came to a close, with the retirement of legendary head coach Nick Saban. In the NFL, Pete Carroll parted ways with the Seattle Seahawks after 14 seasons and a Super Bowl title (2013).
Then never one to do things normally, Bill Belichick decided to turn the football world upside-down with his own departure from the New England Patriots. After 24 seasons and six Super Bowl titles, the 71-year-old legend just came off his third losing season in the past four years.
Belichick’s 302 regular season wins rank third all time, 16 behind George Halas for second, and 26 behind Don Shula for the record. His 31 postseason victories blew past Tom Landry’s 20 nearly a decade ago for most all time. Breaking Shula’s record would entail at least 3-5 years of playoff-caliber coaching, which we know is not likely to happen.
Getting his head coaching start in Cleveland for the 1991 season, Belichick got the Browns to the playoffs once in five years, which included their last home playoff game in 1994…against the Patriots. Belichick was reviled in Cleveland for a number of years, after cutting hometown quarterback legend Bernie Kosar during the 1993 season. Respectfully, Belichick decided not to remain employed by owner Art Modell when the franchise moved to Baltimore after the 1995 season.
New England went 5-11 during Belichick’s first season at the helm in 2000. The following year saw the franchise win their first Super Bowl, albeit in highly controversial fashion, against the then-St. Louis Rams. It was later discovered that Belichick’s staff were secretly videotaping the Ram practices leading up to the game, eventually dubbed “Spygate.” This began a run of three titles in four years.
The man dubbed “The Hoodie” for wearing hooded sweatshirts or trash bags on sidelines during games or practices, Belichick was the model of consistency for NFL coaches for two decades. The Patriots won 10 or more games 17 straight seasons from 2003-2019, winning the AFC East division all but once (2008).
Once Tom Brady departed after the 2019 season, the Patriots struggled to find their identity. There was hope that rookie Mac Jones would keep winning after getting the Patriots to the playoffs in his rookie season, but Jones has shown to be one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the NFL in the two years since. Jones was benched multiple times, often in favor of 2022 fourth-round pick Bailey Zappe, who often fared no better.
Buffalo and Miami have left New England in the dust in the division, so there may not be a better time for Belichick to walk away. Whether he decides to continue coaching remains to be seen. However, there was only so much Belichick could squeeze from a rebuilding roster, and even less that the roster can still get out of him. Their new blood is not going to act like an elixir for a man who knows his best days are behind him.
So now New England turns the reins over to longtime assistant Jerod Mayo, a member of their Super Bowl 49 (2014) championship squad. Mayo, 37, was New England’s first round pick in 2008, and would go on to earn first-team All Pro honors in 2010. He would also make the Pro Bowl in 2010 and 2012.
Mayo has been the heir-apparent in New England for several years, when the prospect of Josh McDaniels returning grew less and less likely. Mayo will also be the youngest coach in the NFL next season, barring a stunning hire for one of the seven other current openings around the league.
Kudos to owner Robert Kraft for moving swiftly in signing Mayo’s name to the contract before someone else could interview him for their vacancy. Mayo and Eric Bienemy deserve their chance in the big chair, and Bienemy may not have to wait very long with the regime change taking place in Washington, where he is the current assistant head coach and offensive coordinator.
-JC24
So now New England turns the reins over to longtime assistant Jerod Mayo, a member of their Super Bowl 49 (2014) championship squad. Mayo, 37, was New England’s first round pick in 2008, and would go on to earn first-team All Pro honors in 2010. He would also make the Pro Bowl in 2010 and 2012.
Mayo has been the heir-apparent in New England for several years, when the prospect of Josh McDaniels returning grew less and less likely. Mayo will also be the youngest coach in the NFL next season, barring a stunning hire for one of the seven other current openings around the league.
Kudos to owner Robert Kraft for moving swiftly in signing Mayo’s name to the contract before someone else could interview him for their vacancy. Mayo and Eric Bienemy deserve their chance in the big chair, and Bienemy may not have to wait very long with the regime change taking place in Washington, where he is the current assistant head coach and offensive coordinator.
-JC24