Head coach Bill Belichick parts ways with New England Patriots

Bill Belichick has stepped down as the head coach of the New England Patriots after coaching the team for 24 seasons, ESPN reported on Thursday.

The 71-year-old's tenure with the team is one of legend. Belichick has guided the New England Patriots to 21 campaign wins – with a winning percentage of over .500 – the fifth most wins in NFL history; 17 division titles, the most by a head coach in league history; nine conference championships, the most by a head coach in the Super Bowl era; and six Vince Lombardi Trophies in one team.

The Patriots finished the 2023 NFL regular season with a 4-13 record, missing the playoffs for the second straight campaign. According to ESPN, Belichick met and talked to team owner Robert Kraft this week about how the two sides wanted to proceed. In the end, Belichick and Kraft reached the mutual decision to part ways.

Belichick, who has secured 333 wins, including the playoffs, the second-most in NFL history, still has one year left of his contract with the Patriots, but the team won't seek compensation for his exit. According to ESPN, he will continue his coaching career in a new team in the 50th season.

The Atalanta Falcons, which fired their head coach Arthur Smith, is reportedly one of the possible destinations for Belichick. As for the Patriots, linebackers coach Jerod Mayo was listed as a leading candidate for head coach, according to ESPN.

Quarterback Tom Brady, with whom Belichick won all six of his Super Bowl titles, retired in February 2023. He left the Patriots for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020 and won his seventh ring there.

Belichick will continue to chase his seventh Vince Lombardi Trophy as a head coach, but not in New England.