Robert Kraft was hoping for a different outcome. Having spent years trying to mend the relationship between Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, the partnership ultimately ended in 2020. For Kraft, this was a difficult departure, and he reluctantly watched Brady leave and win a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Kraft has always admired Belichick’s football prowess since their initial meeting in 1996. Despite knowing Belichick’s lack of charisma, Kraft valued his passion for the game. The years they spent together resulted in unparalleled success.
Kraft believed that the team would reset with Cam Newton at quarterback and was excited when Mac Jones was drafted in 2021. However, since Brady’s departure, the Patriots have struggled.
As a result, Kraft met with Belichick and decided to part ways with him after a 4-13 season. They both reached the conclusion that a change was necessary. While Belichick, at the age of 71, will have the opportunity to seek a new landing spot to chase Don Shula’s record, Kraft is now focused on finding a new coach to bring the Patriots into a new era.
While the relationship between Kraft and Belichick was not always positive, the 2022 season was particularly disastrous. Kraft expected the Patriots to be competitive and stressed publicly that he wanted the team to return to the playoffs.
Although Belichick made several changes, ultimately, the offense struggled, and the Patriots failed to meet expectations. Despite opportunities to improve the team, Belichick’s decisions did not yield the desired results. Kraft and the Patriots felt it was time to end one of the most successful coaching tenures in pro sports history.