After 24 years with the New England Patriots, it’s over for Bill Belichick. But not yet in the NFL. The legendary coach can now show everyone once again. And he has to. A commentary

Bill Belichick shaped an era at the New England Patriots for 24 years. The head coaching legend has spent around a third of his life in Foxborough.

Few personalities have shaped a single franchise as much as Belichick has shaped the Patriots. Yet he was not solely responsible for New England’s glory days over a long period of those 24 years.

Quarterback icon Tom Brady also left his mark on Massachusetts alongside Belichick. But was that the end for him? Not at all! The “GOAT” looked for a new challenge in Tampa Bay and won the Super Bowl in his very first year.

Belichick now wants to imitate him. Give it his all once again – a fresh start. Can he do it? With certainty. Does he have to? Somehow, yes.

Because Belichick wants to keep going. He has said so himself. And if he’s going to take on a new task again at the age of 71, then it has to be with another team now.

Otherwise, he would only further damage his undoubtedly grandiose, but recently somewhat fractured legacy.

In addition, Belichick actually wanted to continue in Boston – despite the amicable separation with the Patriots. He could therefore also prove to New England and his long-time companion Robert Kraft that it was perhaps the wrong decision to make his own fresh start after all.

However, Belichick would not only be lashing out at the Patriots if he were to achieve great success. There are some critics in the USA who say Belichick’s system is outdated and has no place in today’s NFL.

Belichick is in debt – if he continues

Bill certainly wouldn’t reinvent the wheel elsewhere. So how much can he adapt to the modern NFL? Maybe a breath of fresh air would do him good too. The help of a new owner, new coordinators, new assistant coaches. A risk that could pay off.

But if it backfires, his critics will be proved right. Because since Brady’s departure, Belichick has been in debt for success.

The Patriots only ended the 2021 season with a positive record in the post-Brady era. Three times there were more defeats at the end – as in the past season (4-13).

The successes under Belichick are here to stay and could only be garnished by following in the footsteps of his former protégé and delivering outside of New England.

But to do so, he would have to show everyone once again – just like Brady before him. And possibly play for the Super Bowl once again.