Bill Belichick subtly fires back at Robert Kraft’s comments about his hiring with Patriots

The glory days in the New England Patriots are now in the past, and nostalgia hangs heavy over Foxborough. Team owner Robert Kraft recently stated that one of the riskiest decisions he made since taking over the franchise was hiring Bill Belichick — a move that the legendary coach has now addressed in his own words.

Back then, no one could have imagined that this duo — alongside Tom Brady as the team’s unquestioned leader on the field — would go on to achieve the number of titles they ultimately did. In fact, many questioned whether hiring Belichick back in 1999 was the right move at all.

Now the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, Belichick spoke with ESPN and, in a subtle way, responded to the Patriots’ owner — saying that his decision to take the head coaching job back then was also a risky move.

“As I told Robert multiple times through the years, I took a big risk by taking the New England Patriots head coaching job,” Belichick said. “I already had an opportunity to be the Head Coach of the New York Jets, but the ownership situation was unstable.

Robert Kraft, owner and CEO of the New England Patriots (L), and head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots look on after defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers 36-17 to win the AFC Championship Game at Gillette Stadium on January 22, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

“I had been warned by multiple previous Patriots’ coaches, as well as other members of other NFL organizations and the media, that the New England job was going to come with many internal obstacles. I made it clear that we would have to change the way the team was managed to regain the previously attained success.”

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Not Tom Brady: Robert Kraft reveals his riskiest decision as Patriots owner

The Patriots dynasty

The New England Patriots’ twenty-year dynasty was built by owner Robert Kraft, head coach Bill Belichick, and quarterback Tom Brady. This powerful trio transformed the franchise into a perennial winner, setting new standards for success in the NFL. Their combined vision and talent created an unrivaled winning culture.

Under Belichick’s strategic coaching and Brady’s exceptional play, the Patriots not only dominated the league, but they also consistently outplayed opponents through meticulous preparation and execution. This era was defined by their adaptability and relentless pursuit of victory.

The ultimate achievement was winning six Super Bowl championships: From their first in Super Bowl XXXVI to their last in Super Bowl LIII, the extraordinary synergy between this three main characters, solidified their legacy as one of sports’ greatest dynasties.