analysis
The master-maker of the “Tom Brady years” experienced one disaster after another with the New England Patriots in the NFL. Is coach Bill Belichick standing in the way of a real restart?
Bill Belichick has been a professional football coach for almost 50 years, including 23 as head coach of the New England Patriots. But there are things that even the 71-year-old has not yet experienced. His Patriots’ 0:34 loss on Sunday (October 8, 2023) against the New Orleans Saints was the highest home defeat that a Belichick team has ever suffered. Already at halftime, a “hurricane of boos” accompanied the players into the dressing room.
Belichick had only lost higher once: the week before, 3:38 against the Dallas Cowboys. The New England Patriots and their legendary coach are a shadow of their six-Super Bowl-winning dynasty. The reasons for this are diverse.
Problem one: the Brady farewell
One paid a visit to his former team at the start of the season: Tom Brady, at the age of 46 (finally) retired from football this season. With the departure of the star quarterback at the beginning of 2020, THE constant in the Patriots offense disappeared. Of course it had to happen that way. But removing the playmaker from the team after such a long and successful time is like a sporting heart transplant. It can work, but it can also be extremely difficult.
2015 MVP Cam Newton came as the first successor – and with his run-oriented style of play, he was the wrong type of quarterback. After that, rookie Mac Jones should grow into the role as a first-round pick. But after a decent debut season in 2021-22, things went steadily downhill.
In his third season, the 25-year-old is completely unsettled. In his young season, Jones threw the ball more often to the opponent (six interceptions) than to his own man in the end zone (five touchdowns).
Problem two: the New signings
But Belichick, who also serves as manager, has not shown any luck in other positions in the “post-Brady era”. None of the wide receivers or running backs who were drafted or signed as free agents were able to develop the potential to carry their team.
As the latest signing, “JuJu” Smith-Schuster from the Super Bowl winner Kansas City Chiefs, who was signed before the season with a lot of fanfare and for $33 million for three years, failed to meet expectations.
Problem three: Bad luck with injuries
And then there is the bad luck with injuries, especially in the offensive line, which is supposed to protect the quarterback during his plays. With linebacker Matthew Judon and cornerback Christian Gonzalez, two supports are out for the long term.
Things are looking bleak for a team that won its division a whopping 17 times in 18 years between 2001 and 2019, reached the Super Bowl nine times and won it six times. Experts are predicting the Patriots’ worst season since Belichick took over in 2000, when the team from Foxborough, southwest of Boston, finished the season with a record of 5-11.
Where does the path lead?
But respect for icons in US sports prohibits even thinking about firing Belichick. Belichick himself now says stoically: “We’re starting all over again.” The next “restart” is on Sunday (October 15, 2023, 10:05 p.m.) at the Las Vegas Raiders.
Either way: The coach will finish the season with the New England Patriots and then has to decide for himself. Is he actually reinventing himself and the team again? Will he continue to chase the record for the most wins as a coach? He would still be missing 17 until legend Don Shula of the Miami Dolphins – so probably more than one season.
Or does he clear the way for a final and complete new beginning with the Patriots?