As coach Bill Belichick wins a total of eight Super Bowls. But one of his best career moments has nothing to do with all those titles, but with his departure from the New York Jets.

Bill Belichick has been active in the NFL since 1975. As assistant coach of the New York Giants he won the Super Bowl twice, and as head coach of the New England Patriots he won it six times. Sufficiently outstanding career moments, one should have.

Now the 68-year-old has revealed in his weekly interview with the radio station “WEEI” that one of the most beautiful moments in his career has nothing to do with his titles.

After working as an assistant to Bill Parcells at the New York Jets from 1997 to 1999, and Parcell’s resignation as head coach, Belichick was supposed to take over as boss. The team already introduced him as the new head coach, but only one day later he announced his resignation and accepted an offer from the Patriots.

Belichick thanks Patriots owner Kraft
“This was not only one of the most formative moments of my career, but also one of the great moments of my life,” he recalls of his departure from the Jets: “In combination with Robert [Kraft, Patriots-Owner, editor’s note], who gave me the opportunity to come here, I couldn’t have wished for anything better,” Belichick says.

For his departure to the Patriots, the jets received a first-round pick at the time, a good fortune for the now 68-year-old.

“That wasn’t a good situation for me and I didn’t want to be part of it, so I wasn’t either,” he thinks back to his time in the Big Apple. “Robert Kraft gave up a lot so that I could join the Patriots. And I am very grateful that it worked out.”