Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots are going their separate ways

Everything ends.

Today in Foxborough, the Bill Belichick Era came to an end, as the New England Patriots are parting ways with the legendary coach.

After the Patriots limped to a 4-13 record, their worst finish since 1992 and the worst finish under Belichick’s stewardship, the legendary head coach will not return for 2024.

According to Mike Reiss, who covers the Patriots for ESPN, Belichick and owner Robert Kraft met multiple times over the past few days to determine a path forward, but in the end “productive talks resulted in a mutual decision that left both sides comfortable and at ease.”

Under Belichick, the team enjoyed two different dynastic periods. The first came starting in 2002, when the Patriots reached Super Bowl 36 and upset the St. Louis Rams, the “Greatest Show on Turf.” That began a stretch that saw New England win three Super Bowls in four years, and turned Tom Brady into a household name.

New England then went through a period that saw them fail to return to such heights, as they lost a pair of Super Bowls to the New York Giants, including a loss that prevented the Patriots from becoming the first 19-0 team in NFL history. But then New England enjoyed their second extended run of success, as the Patriots won three Super Bowls in five years, while advancing to a fourth, which they lost to the Philadelphia Eagles.

However, since their win over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl 53, the organization has seen its share of struggles. New England lost in the Wild Card round the following year, and saw Brady walk out the door and head to Florida, as many do in their later years. Patriots fans saw Brady immediately deliver a Super Bowl to Tampa Bay, while the team tried their best to replace him at quarterback. Cam Newton was given the first chance, followed by Mac Jones, but neither could fill his shoes.

A failed experiment a season ago, that saw defensive-minded coach Matt Patricia take charge of the offense in Jones’s second season, was a failure. New England hired Bill O’Brien to take over the offense this season, and while the offense showed some signs of improvement, Jones eventually lost his job, and was the emergency quarterback in the season finale.

Now, the team faces an uncertain future, including at the quarterback position, as they sit third in the 2024 NFL Draft order. And for the first time this century, Belichick will not be in the room when those decisions are made.