Former Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel questioned the greatness of Bill Belichick on Thursday after the future Hall of Fame head coach and the Patriots parted ways after 24 seasons.
Samuel, who won two Super Bowls with retired quarterback Tom Brady under Belichick, has previously offered the general manager role to NFL owners potentially interested in Belichick's services. I sent him a message asking him to think carefully.
“If only the owners could give Bill Belichick that power again.'' Samuel, 43, told TMZ.. “That would be crazy.”
“This is my job, you're the coach. You don't have to be fast. You don't have to be strong. You don't have to be agile. All you have to do is coach with your head as always. only.
“Then if you're such a great coach, how can you fail? You haven't lost anything!”
Belichick, who turns 72 in April, was the Patriots' head coach and general manager during his time in New England.
He made it clear during Thursday's press conference that he wants to continue coaching, and is expected to garner interest from multiple teams, including the Atlanta Falcons, as the coaching merry-go-round spins.
Samuel also doubled down on his previous comments that the Patriots' success during the Belichick and Brady years, which brought them six Super Bowl championships, was due to the future Hall of Fame quarterback.
“One man, one player determined your success,” the four-time Pro Bowler said.
Samuel explained that he believes Belichick can win as the head coach of another NFL team, but with the right staff.
The All-Pro NFL player said Belichick could be in a promising situation if he reunites with longtime offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Josh McDaniels and gets an “alpha” GM elsewhere.
In July, Samuel criticized Belichick with similar comments when asked if he was the best coach in NFL history.
“Absolutely not.” samuel said When he appeared on the podcast “All Things Covered”. “Aren't you an idiot? Look at his record without Tom. He has to win without Tom.
“One of the things I learned about being great is that you have to be great in different situations. It was all Tom. I was there. I saw it. It was Tom. Everybody knows that.”
Samuel too said at the time“I want to see Belichick rise up from there, because it's time to go.”
Belichick had one year left on his contract and finished the season with a 4-13 record, the Patriots' worst record since 1992.
New England also missed the postseason for the third time in four years, following Brady's departure in 2020.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft said Thursday he didn't think it was right to trade Belichick, adding that he did the same when Brady left Foxborough in 2020.
Kraft added that the breakup was amicable and said Belichick remains a Patriot and is excited about the future.
Samuel was selected by the Patriots in the fourth round (120th overall) in the 2003 NFL Draft and had a successful five-year career in Foxboro.
He then spent four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, making the Pro Bowl in three of them and leading the NFL in interceptions in the 2006 and 2009 seasons.
Samuel last played for the Atlanta Falcons for two seasons before being released in 2014.
