If this was the final act for “The Hoodie,” it’ll go down as a sad ending for arguably the greatest coaching tenure in NFL history.
Bill Belichick, his face hardly visible at snowy Gillette Stadium, walked off the field on Sunday following the New England Patriots‘ season-ending 17-3 loss to the New York Jets. Belichick, wearing a facial covering as well as his trademark hood, has been the subject of intense speculation in recent weeks amid persistent rumors that he would leave the Patriots once the 2023 regular season ended. Now that the campaign is over, the six-time Super Bowl champion’s future should be cleared up in short order.
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The Pats’ worst season of the 21st century
For the first time since 1992, the Patriots failed to win at least five games in a season. Sunday’s loss to the Jets means the Pats, once the NFL‘s standard-bearers, have finished dead-last in the AFC East division that they once owned. Their 4-13 record is the worst in any season this century, and it means New England will pick no lower than fourth overall in the 2024 draft.
Belichick took over as New England’s head coach in 2000, and consistent success saw him eventually add de facto general manager duties to his job title. Belichick, who has won 296 games as the Patriots’ coach between the regular season and the playoffs, has been heavily criticized for his roster-building strategies since quarterback Tom Brady left the team following the 2019 season, and everything collapsed in 2023.
Belichick’s decision to use a fourth-round draft pick on kicker Chad Ryland was one of many controversial choices the 71-year-old made in putting together the 2023 roster. Injuries to key defensive players Christian Gonzalez and Matthew Judon — as well as uncertainty at quarterback — saw the Patriots start 2-8. The Pats scored only 236 points across 17 games, the lowest total in the NFL — the franchise had not been that poor offensively since scoring 238 points in 1971 (when the NFL had a 14-game scehdule).
If this is indeed the end for Belichick, several teams are expected to sniff around the veteran coach and gauge his intentions for 2024. The Washington Commanders, the Los Angeles Chargers, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have all been linked with Belichick — although the Bucs, surprise NFC South champions this season, could opt to keep head coach Todd Bowles.
Jets snap their long losing skid to New England
Meanwhile, a severely-disappointing season in New York ended with at least a glimmer of hope. The Jets finished the year with a 7-10 record and their first win over New England in 16 tries.
The Jets had not defeated the Patriots at all since Dec. 27, 2015, while their previous regular-season win at Gillette Stadium took place way back in 2008. It was only a small consolation for the Jets — who entered this season with Super Bowl aspirations after trading for Aaron Rodgers — but a consolation nonethelss. It could give New York a platform to build on for 2024, when Rodgers is expected to return from an Achilles injury and running back Breece Hall will hope to surpass 1,000 yards rushing after finishing six yards short in 2023.
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