BILL Belichick has hit back at Robert Kraft’s claims that the New England Patriots took a “big risk” by hiring him back in 1999.
Belichic, 73, went on to create a dynasty with the Patriots and is the most successful NFL head coach of all time, winning six Super Bowl rings in his 24-year stint with the franchise.
Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick have reignited their feud[/caption]
Kraft, the Patriots owner since 1994, claimed he took a lot of heat for sticking his neck out and bringing Belichick to New England all those years ago.
Speaking on the ‘Dudes on Dudes’ podcast, co-hosted by former Patriots stars Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski, Kraft responded to a question about the best decision he made as owner.
The 84-year-old said: “The one that got questioned the most was in 1999. I gave up a No. 1 draft pick for a coach that had only won a little over 40 percent of his games to get him out.
“I don’t know if there are any Jets fans here. I think getting Bill Belichick to come to the Patriots in 1999 was a big risk, and I got hammered in the Boston area, but he was with us for 24 years.”
But Belichick has refuted those claims, instead suggesting it was him that took the risk to join the Patriots and not the other way round.
He told ESPN: “As I told Robert multiple times through the years, I took a big risk by taking the New England Patriots head coaching job.
“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.
Bill Belichick won six Super Bowls as Patriots head coach[/caption]
“I made it clear that we would have to change the way the team was managed to regain the previously attained success.”
Belichick did thank Kraft for allowing him to mix things up at the franchise, adding: “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”.
Kraft and Belichick have had a turbulent relationship in recent years with the pair butting heads on a number of occasions.
The two were said to be at odds with regards to Tom Brady‘s exit from the Patriots in 2022, with Kraft thought to be keen on keeping hold of the superstar quarterback.
While Kraft has described Belichick’s 2023 exit from the Patriots as a firing, despite initial claims of a “mutual” decision.
Belichick, who is now the head coach at North Carolina, also makes no mention of Kraft in his book ‘The Art of Winning: Lessons from My Life in Football’.
Belichick is also yet to be inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame.
Belichick has turned to college football and is now the head coach of North Carolina[/caption]
