Bill Belichick, Patriots part ways: Legendary coach's New England era ends after 24 seasons

Bill Belichick was hired by the Patriots in 2000

It is the end of an era in Foxborough. After 24 seasons as head coach, the New England Patriots and Bill Belichick have decided to part ways, according to CBS Sports NFL Insider Jonathan Jones. This decision spearheaded by Robert Kraft and Belichick comes after the Patriots went 4-13 during the 2023 season, which found them in last place in the AFC East for the first time since Belichick's first season with the organization in 2000. New England also missed the playoffs for the third time in the last four seasons. 

The 2023 campaign proved to be the final straw that broke what has been a historical run by the head coach that was primarily filled with unparalleled success, including all six of the franchise's Super Bowl titles. However, the post-Tom Brady era beginning in the 2020 season saw the franchise go into decline. Belichick's Patriots went 29-39 over that stretch and, as mentioned, missed the playoffs in three of those four seasons. 

The previous two campaigns were particularly damning for Belichick. After making the postseason in 2021 after selecting Mac Jones in the first round that prior offseason, New England's rebuild looked to be on the upswing. Controversial decisions since then -- allowing Matt Patricia and Joe Judge to run the offense in 2022, and not adding starting-caliber offensive tackles during the 2023 offseason -- sent the team, specifically the offense, backward and Jones' development went off the rails. Jones was benched multiple times throughout the 2023 season and second-year quarterback Bailey Zappe finished out the year as the team's starter.