by: Nick Geddes • 1 hour ago • NickGeddesNews
Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft helped put together the greatest dynasty in the history of the NFL . Over the course of their 24-year partnership, the New England Patriots made nine trips to the Super Bowl, winning six Lombardi trophies.
But 18 months ago, Belichick and Kraft mutually agreed to part ways. Kraft recently reflected on his hiring of Belichick in 1999, calling it a “big risk,” and citing his .450 winning percentage as a head coach at the time. Belichick has fired back, telling ESPN that it was he who took a “big risk” by taking the New England job.
“As I told Robert multiple times through the years, I took a big risk by taking the New England Patriots head coaching job,” Belichick told Don Van Natta Jr. of ESPN. “I already had an opportunity to be the Head Coach of the New York Jets, but the ownership situation was unstable.”
Belichick, 73, accepted Kraft’s offer to take the job in New England after resigning as head coach of the New York Jets one day after being hired. Belichick said he was urged by several people to turn down Kraft’s offer and remain with the Jets.
“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 said. “I made it clear that we would have to change the way the team was managed to regain the previously attained success.”