New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick evaded numerous inquiries regarding his job status on Wednesday, consistently offering the same response: “I’m preparing for Kansas City.” The struggling 3-10 Patriots are set to face the Chiefs on Sunday, a game that was rescheduled from ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” due to the team’s ongoing challenges.
Speculation surrounding Belichick’s future has intensified, partly due to owner Robert Kraft’s explicit expectations. In March, Kraft, who has been vocal about the importance of making the playoffs, emphasized the significance of a postseason appearance as the team entered its fourth season after Tom Brady’s departure in free agency.
The Patriots were officially eliminated from playoff contention after the Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday, marking their earliest postseason exit since Belichick’s inaugural season in 2000. Additionally, the team has secured its third losing season in the four years since Brady joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent, with their last playoff victory occurring in Super Bowl LIII on Feb. 3, 2019.
While Kraft hasn’t addressed Belichick’s future publicly during the current season, he spoke broadly on ESPN’s “College GameDay” on Saturday, emphasizing the importance of assembling a team of good people with loyalty and character. Kraft expressed his happiness with the longevity of key individuals within the organization and acknowledged the desire to return to a winning trajectory.
Despite the challenging season, Kraft shared his relief after the team ended a five-game losing streak with a Dec. 7 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers during an interview with “Patriots All-Access.”
On Monday, NBC Sports Boston reported, based on anonymous sources, that the Patriots and Belichick would part ways after the 2023 season—a decision allegedly made following the team’s 10-6 loss to the Colts in Frankfurt, Germany, on Nov. 12. When confronted with questions about this report on Wednesday, Belichick maintained focus on the upcoming game against Kansas City.
Belichick’s tenure as head coach, spanning 24 years, is the NFL’s longest, and overall, it ranks as the fifth-longest by a head coach with one team. His six Super Bowl championships tie him with George Halas and Curly Lambeau, who are the only NFL coaches with six championships since postseason play began in 1933. With 332 total victories (regular season and playoffs), Belichick is second only to Don Shula (347) in all-time coaching wins.
In March, Kraft, when asked about Belichick’s coaching future, expressed a desire for him to break Shula’s record but emphasized the organization’s primary focus on winning rather than individual statistics.
