New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has spoken out regarding former longtime head coach Bill Belichick still being jobless.
Belichick, who coached the Patriots to six Super Bowls during his 24-year tenure, did not land any of the open head coach jobs and, barring an unforeseen firing, will not have a coaching gig for the 2024 NFL season.
Kraft was asked about Belichick not getting a job while at MusiCares to present Jon Bon Jovi with a Person of the Year Award.
“Well, he’s pretty special,” Kraft said of Belichick to Fox News. “We were lucky to have him for a quarter of a century. We only wish him well.”
Belichick, 71, interviewed twice for the Falcons job, but they ended up hiring Raheem Morris to be their head coach.
There were reports linking Belichick to the Commanders, but he never appeared to have a formal interview with the franchise.
Belichick and the Patriots parted ways on Jan. 11, and the Patriots promoted linebackers coach and former Pro Bowler Jerod Mayo to fill their head coaching vacancy the very next day.
“I’ll always be a Patriot,” Belichick said at his exit presser. “I look forward to coming back here, but at this time, we are going to move on. I look forward to and am excited for the future, but always very, very appreciative of the opportunity, the support here.”
Both Kraft and Belichick took the high road after the two decided to go their separate ways, though reports have indicated that there was friction before their eventual breakup.
An anonymous source had told ESPN that Kraft would “put down Belichick at every opportunity” amid the team’s struggles.
“The Krafts should be ashamed of themselves,” a New England assistant coach reportedly added in the ESPN piece.
NFL Network recently reported Belichick could take a media job for 2024.
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