Bill Belichick’s 24-year reign as New England Patriots head coach and de-facto general manager includes six Super Bowls and nine AFC championships, but it didn’t end well, with the offense struggling during a 4-13 season.
During that season, starting quarterback Mac Jones was benched many times as his troubles grew. Despite these concerns, he was occasionally kept in games, allegedly as a “f–k you” to team owner Robert Kraft.
ESPN’s Seth Wickersham, Wright Thompson, and Don Van Natta Jr. shared additional perspective during an in-depth story on the conclusion of Belichick’s Patriots career.
“Belichick’s mistakes in roster design and game management had created an opportunity for the Krafts. The offensive did not have any explosive players. Jones appeared lost, and the options appeared to be worse. Belichick released backup Bailey Zappe during the preseason and then re-signed him after he cleared waivers. Players believed third-stringer Malik Cunningham could have provided a big-play dimension to the attack, but he only played in a loss to the Raiders on October 15. He was cut a week later, 10 days after Belichick signed him to a three-year contract, then signed by Baltimore, in a front-running move similar to the Patriots’. Local reporters asked Belichick and O’Brien if Jones would be benched; however, Belichick kept him in games, even when it was evident the quarterback
Jones was eventually benched for good on Nov. 26 during a 10-7 defeat to the New York Giants, after completing 12-of-21 passes for 89 yards and two interceptions.
Kraft told reporters at Belichick’s final news conference on Thursday that the franchise and coach have “mutually agreed to part ways amicably.”
According to ESPN, Belichick’s tenure in New England did not end on good terms.
“Belichick had been sending clear signals internally for weeks that he believed he was coaching his final games for the Patriots,” the source added.
“He also made it plain that he was ready to leave, telling confidants that Robert Kraft and his son, club president Jonathan Kraft, had undermined the culture he had constructed over two decades.”
Jones appears to have gotten caught in the thick of the conflict. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk had mentioned this during the Giants game.
Jones finished the season as an inactive player and third quarterback in case of necessity.
According to ESPN, Belichick proposed selling Jones to ownership before the season, but he did not receive their approval. Kraft reportedly wanted to see how Jones would perform under new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, believing that the quarterback could replicate his rookie year success and potential under then-OC Josh McDaniels.
“Then, during offseason planning meetings, Belichick later informed colleagues in the building, he suggested to the Krafts that they trade quarterback Mac Jones. The Krafts embraced Jones after he was taken in the first round in 2021, aiming to create something similar to a Brady-like bond with him.
“Jones performed well as a rookie under then-coordinator McDaniels, but deteriorated in 2022 with Belichick’s patchwork offensive staff. Ownership advocated against trading him, wanting to see what Jones could do with O’Brien calling plays, which they refuted this week through a team representative. Belichick technically could have dealt Jones, but he deferred to his bosses.
In 2022, the Raiders’ head coach, along with Joe Judge and Matt Patricia, took over the offensive. His worst year was perhaps 2023, when he threw more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (10).
Perhaps Belichick was trying to make a point to Kraft by keeping Jones in games for longer than he should have. Finally, the Patriots have moved forward by naming inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo as their new head coach. It’s unclear what will happen to Jones, who hasn’t benefited from offensive leadership changes.
