Belichick Says He Took Risk Joining Patriots

One of football’s greatest coaches is pushing back on a popular narrative.

Bill Belichick responded to Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s comments about taking a big risk by trading a first round pick to the Jets for Belichick in 1999. Belichick said it was he that took a “big risk” by joining a flailing franchise with few resources that was over 10-million-dollars over the salary cap.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has had plenty to say regarding Bill Belichick since the two ended their partnership as owner and head coach of one of the greatest dynasties in sports history in January of 2024.

Kraft’s latest comments, on the “Dudes on Dudes” podcast with co host Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, the 84-year-old owner said that he took a “big risk” in 1999 when he lured Belichick away from the New York Jets. Edelman asked Kraft what was the best decision he made since purchasing the Patriots.

“Well, the one that got questioned the most was in 1999,” Kraft said. “I gave up a No. 1 draft pick for a coach (who) had only won a little over 40 percent of his games to get him out … I think getting Bill Belichick to come to the Patriots in 1999 was a big risk, and I got hammered in the Boston media. “But he was with us for 24 years and we did OK.”

Belichick went on to say he was warned by multiple previous Patriots coaches and other NFL organizations that taking the Patriots job was going to “come with many internal obstacles.”

Belichick said taking the Patriots job over the Jets job, pointing to the Jets being in the conference championship game during the 1998 season and the Patriots being in a tough cap situation during Belichick’s first season at the helm.

The now North Carolina Tar Heels coach said he appreciated Kraft giving him the opportunity to make the roster changes needed in 2000 to pave the way for the Patriots to win the Super Bowl the next season.

But when asked why by espen if he felt Kraft made statements that hiring him was “a big risk,” Belichick simply responded: “You’ll have to ask Robert.”As head coach of the Pats, Belichick won 17 division titles, made 13 AFC Championship Games, and won six Super Bowls.

Belichick Says He Took Risk Joining Patriots  was originally published on myhoustonmajic.com