Robert Kraft Reflects on Bill Belichick’s Hiring

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft recently shared his thoughts on hiring Bill Belichick back in 1999. He referred to it as the best decision he has made during his ownership, but he also acknowledged that it came with significant risks.

During a recent appearance, Kraft reminisced about the skepticism surrounding that choice. “The most asked questions back then,” he remarked, while appearing with football greats Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski.

He pointed out that at the time, it was a bold move to let go of a top draft pick for a coach who had only won about 40% of his games. It wasn’t an easy sell, especially given the Patriots’ declining performance compared to the Jets, who had recently found success under coach Bill Parcells. Kraft noted, “It was a big risk for Bill Belichick to come to the Patriots back then,” but it ultimately paid off, as he spent 24 years with the team.

Belichick responded to Kraft’s comments by agreeing that the job itself is a “big risk.” In a statement, he reflected on the timeline of his career, mentioning that he had previously been head coach for the Jets but left due to instability from ownership issues.

Despite the turbulent beginnings in New England, Belichick expressed gratitude towards Kraft for enabling a significant turnaround. The Patriots, under his leadership, achieved an impressive record of 266 wins to 121 losses, including six Super Bowl victories and numerous division titles.

However, there remains a curious fact that Belichick, even after all this success, is not yet enshrined in the Patriots’ Hall of Fame. It’s a puzzling omission for many fans who consider him a central figure in the team’s triumphs.