Bill Belichick: All Things Must Come To An End

The New England Patriots are now looking for a new head coach after parting ways with Bill Belichick. 

Belichick took over as Pats head coach in 2000 and ended up spending a third of his life with the team. During that third of his life, Belichick led the Pats to 17 playoff appearances in 24 seasons, 9 AFC championships and 6 Super Bowl titles. 

With 302 career regular season wins, Belichick is the third winningest head coach in NFL history behind only George Halas of Chicago Bears fame with 318 and Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula with 328. Belichick is still planning to coach so he could surpass both Halas and Shula. He just won't be doing so here in New England. 

Now Belichick has reached the "what you have done for me lately?" stage of his career. The Pats went 4-13 this season, their worst showing more than 30 years. 

Of course, most of Belichick's success came with Tom Brady at quarterback and many, many, many people are pointing this out with great glee as Brady won a Super Bowl ring with Tampa Bay while the Pats never won a playoff game without Brady. 

Then again, we've been spoiled. Between 2002 and 2019, the Pats won six Super Bowls, the Red Sox won four World Series and the Bruins and Celtics have a Stanley Cup and a NBA Title between them. You can only win for so long, but that's not what Boston fans want to hear. Although the Bruins and Celtics have made a good accounting of themselves so far (the Red Sox are anyone's guess) it won't mean anything without a parade on Boylston Street.  

While Brady was the common denominator for their six Super Bowl titles, those Patriots teams had sterling defense with the likes of Willie McGinest, Lawyer Milloy, Teddy Bruschi and Ty Law and support on offense with the likes of Danny Amendola, Wes Welker, Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski. It was Bill Belichick who put these teams together. As great these players were, there is no guarantee they would have won a Super Bowl title much less six titles without Belichick playing a key role. 

Although many will downplay Belichick's contributions, don't be shocked if NFL teams fall all over themselves trying to secure his services. Brady or no Brady, six Super Bowl titles will not only get your foot in the door but in the end zone. 

And even if Belichick doesn't replicate his success in New England, he will certainly have an induction ceremony in Canton, Ohio one of these days.