New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft recently called the decision to trade for Bill Belichick in 1999 the best move he has made since purchasing the team. But another part of Kraft's remarks caught the attention of the legendary coach.
Videos by FanBuzz
Getty Images
Kraft said in a recent interview that the move to acquire Belichick from the New York Jets was considered a "big risk" at the time, citing the criticism he received in the media and Belichick's underwhelming tenure as head coach of the Cleveland Browns in the mid-1990s. Kraft said he was "hammered" locally for the decision, though history has clearly vindicated it.
Belichick, who parted ways with the Patriots after the 2023 season, offered a measured response to Kraft's comments in a statement to ESPN.
"As I told Robert multiple times through the years, I took a big risk by taking the New England Patriots head coaching job," Belichick said. "I already had an opportunity to be the head coach of the New York Jets, but the ownership situation was unstable. I had been warned by multiple previous Patriots' coaches, as well as other members of other NFL organizations and the media, that the New England job was going to come with many internal obstacles."
Belichick added that he only accepted the job under the condition that he'd be empowered to reshape the organization.
"I made it clear that we would have to change the way the team was managed to regain the previously attained success," he said. "I appreciated Robert giving me the opportunity to make those changes and build a program that was consistent with my vision for a championship team."
Belichick's instincts proved correct. Over the next two decades, the Patriots captured six Super Bowl titles, nine AFC championships, and 17 division crowns. The once-risky decision turned into one of the most successful partnerships in NFL history.
He, of course, is now going the college route as the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels.
