The writing was on the wall for weeks, but it still didn’t make the news any less shocking. Bill Belichick, the man responsible for building the greatest dynasty in NFL history, is no longer the New England Patriots head coach.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Mike Reiss reported the news on Thursday morning that Belichick and the Patriots had agreed to part ways.
Belichick had been meeting behind the scenes with owner Robert Kraft on how to best proceed after back-to-back losing seasons, including finishing with one of the worst records in the NFL in 2023 (4-13). Change felt inevitable for the Patriots.
Some will welcome that change with open arms, while others will push back against it. Belichick has made more than a few major blunders as a de facto general manager for the Patriots, but he’s clearly still one of the best coaches in the league.
Here’s how fans reacted on Twitter to the news:
It might not have always seemed like it during many of the gruff answers in press conferences, but it was a complete joy to report on the Bill Belichick era in New England.
How many people get to say that they covered the greatest head coach in NFL history? I got to ask him…
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) January 11, 2024
Still hard to process, in real time, that we’re actually covering Bill Belichick and the #Patriots parting ways.
An indescribable run. A legend in every sense of the word.
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/vLLm13s3ET
— Mike Kadlick (@mikekadlick) January 11, 2024
Thank you Bill Belichick 🐐 pic.twitter.com/4f39cLBOj8
— Boston Cream 🍩 (@itsbostoncream) January 11, 2024
“Dad tell me about Bill Belichick” pic.twitter.com/NdbLGPjThQ
— Josh 🐉 (@ThatPatsStan) January 11, 2024
This guy is gonna win another Super Bowl and break the all time wins record somewhere in the next three years.
Bill Belichick.
The 🐐.
Thank you. pic.twitter.com/KR3ZZ2923f
— Football (@BostonConnr) January 11, 2024
One of the greatest leaders, strategists, talent evaluators, and defensive minds in football history.
Things may have ended on a sour note, but Bill Belichick will be remembered fondly by fans as the architect of not one, but two incredible dynasties.
Thanks for the memories. pic.twitter.com/mdIo7oqBUo
— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) January 11, 2024
I was 16 years old and still in school when Bill Belichick took over the New England Patriots and went on to create the greatest football dynasty of the modern era. I'm now 40 and to think of the Pats without him is strange and alien.
What a legacy.
Thank you Bill. pic.twitter.com/jgDZ1jdea2
— Tank for Caleb (@AnnieAura) January 11, 2024
Bill Belichick just had greatest run for any head coach in NFL History.
In a total of 24 seasons, the Patriots won 17 AFC East titles, reached 9 Super Bowls and won 6 of them. All during an era in which the league was set up for turnover and parity, as was the case for nearly…
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 11, 2024
Bill Belichick, Nick Saban, and Pete Carroll have all left their teams or retired in the last 24 hours. We often throw the phrase around without much meaning, but this truly is the end of an era. It’s wild to see.
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) January 11, 2024
I wanted Bill Belichick to stay. I wanted to bring back Pioli as GM, Bill as HC, McDaniels as OC, Vrabel as DC and drop O’Brien to QB coach. Get the gang back together. But in the end it’s all over. The Pats will be in a full rebuild of some kind.
— Alex Kantor (@AlexKant21) January 11, 2024
😩😩😩 damn man. I wanted Bill Belichick to get the record while he was still our coach.
— 𝕀𝕋𝔸ℂℍ𝕀 𝕁ℝ (@Truly_A_Prince) January 11, 2024
Sad to see hoodie and the #Patriots part ways. Thanks for a great quarter century, Coach. #BillBelichick
— Russ (@tikiruss) January 11, 2024
Bill Belichick is the best ever but it was time. Good luck wherever you go next Bill and thanks for all the memories
— Pete Retweet (@PWellz) January 11, 2024
Damn.. Everyone was hoping for Bill to be gone.. I was not. Ready for years of mediocrity. We had a good run. I’ve seen enough winning in my life. Ready to be a mid-tier team for a while. Thank you Bill Belichick for the great years.
— Zach Nelson (@iJuke24) January 11, 2024
I’ll never forget when Bill Belichick gave us a complete history of Special Teams off the top of his head!pic.twitter.com/PW9W0TWYID
— Coach Dan Casey (@CoachDanCasey) January 11, 2024
The New England Patriots are moving on from the NFL’s greatest modern dynasty and starting over. Bill Belichick is leaving the franchise that he coached to six Super Bowl triumphs, four mostly discouraging seasons after quarterback Tom Brady made his exit. pic.twitter.com/JNK0go9JBx
— Whisper Loud (@marieheath78789) January 11, 2024
Bill Belichick: Forever a Patriot. pic.twitter.com/uCJ1WmMuze
— Brian Hines (@iambrianhines) January 11, 2024
The greatest coach in football’s history pic.twitter.com/HSYdA4Qibp
— Brent Schwartz (@BrentSchwartzz) January 11, 2024
It will be very difficult to find a replacement for Legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick
— Pham Vinh Thuan (@thuanpv1976) January 11, 2024
THANK YOU BILL BELICHICK!
THE GREATEST HEAD COACHING RUN IN SPORTS HISTORY.
9 Super Bowl appearances
6 Super Bowl championshipsEnd of an era. Truly. pic.twitter.com/xNDU0mpQg7
— Savage (@SavageSports_) January 11, 2024
Now wild that both Bill Belichick & Nick Saban are moving on within hours of each other. pic.twitter.com/dkyhUY3nbY
— McNeil (@Reflog_18) January 11, 2024
