Belichick won’t talk future amid report that his firing is imminent
By The Associated Press
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick declined to discuss his future on Wednesday amid a report that owner Robert Kraft had already decided to fire the six-time Super Bowl champion after the season.
Asked repeatedly whether he would be back, or wanted to be back, or whether he’d discussed 2024 with Kraft, Belichick said he was only focused on Sunday’s game against the Chiefs.
NBC Sports Boston reported on Tuesday night that Kraft came out of the Patriots’ 10-6 loss to Indianapolis in Germany on Nov. 12 determined to end things with the coach that — along with quarterback Tom Brady — led the franchise to six NFL championships and 17 AFC East titles in a 19year span.
“A decision was made,” the station reported. “They were going to play out the string, and at the end of the year there would be a parting of the ways.”
The Patriots did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Belichick, 71, is reportedly under contract for one more year.
Belichick’s six Super Bowl titles — he won two more as a New York Giants assistant — are the most in history. He is second in career coaching victories, needing 16 more to pass longtime Miami Dolphins mentor Don Shula.
But the Patriots (3-10) are on their way to their third losing season in the past four years. They have not won a playoff game since Brady defected to Tampa Bay in 2020. After last season’s third-place finish, Kraft sent a letter to season ticket-holders vowing to improve.
“We can assure you that no one in our organization is satisfied with the results from this past season,” he wrote. “In the weeks ahead, we will be making critical evaluations of all elements of our football operation as we strive to improve and return to the playoffs next year.”
L.A. GRANTED ‘27 SUPER BOWL >>
Los Angeles will host the Super Bowl to wrap up the 2026 season, it was announced Wednesday during the owners meetings held in the Dallas area. That means LA will get a Super Bowl, World Cup soccer and the Summer Olympics in a little more than a two-year span. The 2028 Games will be in Southern California.
ALSO FROM THE MEETINGS >>
NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said the league will seriously consider banning the socalled hip-drop tackle. The tackle results in players being dragged down from behind and has led to serious lower-body injuries.
■ Vincent dismissed as false a report suggesting the league or Goodell wanted to get rid of the
“tush push” quarterback sneak perfected by Philadelphia. Commissioner Roger Goodell said he wants to hear both sides of the discussion after the season.
■ Vincent said kickoffs have become a “dead ceremonial play” with the infrequency of returns. The league wants to hear ideas from coaches on improving the return rate of less than 20% this season without reversing the progress on injuries.
■ Vincent said the league will review the rule that gives the defense the ball at the 20-yard line on a fumble into the end zone and out of bounds. Some argue the offensive team should keep the ball where the fumble happened.
■ The NFL will play a regular-season game in Brazil in 2024, the first in South America in the latest expansion of the league’s rapidly growing international plan.
NO POSTSEASON FOR AL MICHAELS >>
Al Michaels won’t be calling an NFL playoff game for NBC for the first time since the network returned to televising the league in 2006. NBC confirmed that Michaels, 79, won’t be working the playoffs.