New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick on Monday revealed that he is still under contract with the team amid rumors and speculation that he would be departing the organization after posting a disappointing 4–13 season after Sunday’s finale.
Mr. Belichick, who won six Super Bowls as head coach of the Patriots, has historically given terse and vague answers when questioned by the press about various facets of coaching, including his contract with the team. However, on Monday, he provided a rare insight into his status as head coach of the team.
“I’m under contract. I’m going to do what I always do, which is every day I come in, work as hard as I can to help the team in whatever way I can,” he told reporters, according to media outlets.
The Patriots were among the worst teams in the NFL and last in the AFC. Meanwhile, the team missed out on the postseason for a second consecutive year.
But Mr. Belichick on Monday did not provide any insight on whether the team would fire him after the end of the season if he posted a losing record.
“I learned [a] lesson from my dad growing up—you work for the team that you’re working for and do the best you can for it, until somebody tells you different. So that’s not going to change,” Mr. Belichick said.
The coach, who also serves as the team’s general manager, added that he will meet with the Patriots management, including its owner Robert Kraft, in the near future. “It might be a series of meetings. I don’t know. We’ll handle that internally,” he said.
When asked if he would give up control as general manager, he responded: “I’m for whatever we collectively decide as an organization is the best thing to help our football team. I have multiple roles in that, and I rely on a lot of people to help me in those responsibilities; somebody has to have the final say. Whatever that process is, I’m only part of it.”
“It was obviously a very disappointing season all the way around. Players, coaches, staff, organization, everybody is not anywhere close to what our standard and expectations are. So, obviously, things need to be fixed,” he continued to say
The team will “start putting the pieces back together in terms of setting things up to go through a good, detailed analysis and to kind of start a reconstruction, if you will,” Mr. Belichick said.
‘Black Monday’ Firings
Multiple teams moved to fire their head coaches on what is now known as “Black Monday,” or the Monday after the final slate of games during the regular NFL season. The Atlanta Falcons reportedly fired head coach Arthur Smith after a 7–10 record, while the Washington Commanders confirmed that it had parted ways with head coach Ron Rivera after the team went 4–13.This season, three other coaches were let go mid-season. The Las Vegas Raiders fired then-head coach Josh McDaniels, the Carolina Panthers fired Frank Reich, and the Los Angeles Charges terminated Brandon Staley.
Aside from head coaching changes, New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll fired his special teams and offensive line coaching staff on Monday, while the Panthers also fired general manager Scott Fitterer, according to reports and public statements.
