During last season in the NFL, the point of increasing talk became the relationship between New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.
According to ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr., Seth Wickersham and Jeremy Fowler, via sources with knowledge of the situation, shared the “bad blood” between the two was “no secret” around the league.
Takeaways: ESPN report details failed Bill Belichick job hunt, ‘bad blood’ with Robert Krafthttps://t.co/rhI6M2Z8pT
— Boston.com (@BostonDotCom) April 17, 2024
Per two sources mentioned in the report, a close Kraft friend and a Belichick confidant, the Patriots’ owner offered Falcons owner Arthur Blank an assessment of his former head coach.
The sources have confirmed, Kraft “never have a warm conversation with” Belichick. A “family first” team culture was important to Blank, Kraft’s comments were pointed and personal.
While Kraft claims to only offer praise for Belichick, sources confirmed the Kraft family felt “betrayed” by the coach.
“I don’t think they’d try to hurt Belichick. But I don’t think they’d try to help him, either. They weren’t going to try to sink him. He was finished as an effective head coach. Just look at his last four years in New England. A disaster … If you’re Arthur Blank, why do you want the headaches?”
The ESPN report released on Wednesday brings light on Belichick’s failed job hunt and about Belichick’s 2025 coaching bid gone wrong.
According to an ESPN report, the former Patriots head coach was reportedly “shocked” to find out that the Falcons chose another candidate over him.
Falcons owner Blank announced on Jan. 25 that Raheem Morris would be the team’s next head coach. The former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator, who had previously spent six years in Atlanta as an assistant coach, was heralded as a “good fit.”
Belichick served as the Pats’ head coach for 24 years and led them to unprecedented success, winning six Super Bowls during his time. He parted ways after going 4-13 last season, and was replaced by Jerod Mayo.
Despite his Hall of Fame credential, no team hired him as new head coach after he left New England this off season.
