18 April 2024 , 00:00
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The New England Patriots have responded to allegations that Robert Kraft sabotaged Bill Belichick's interview for the head coach position at the Atlanta Falcons.
Kraft issued a detailed statement denying all such claims. After Belichick left the Patriots following 24 seasons as head coach, NFL reporters started speculating about his next potential coaching destination. Teams like the Los Angeles Chargers and Dallas Cowboys were initially considered, but Belichick only officially interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons, completing his second interview in January.
Despite indications that Belichick would join the Falcons, they ultimately appointed Raheem Morris after Arthur Smith's three-year tenure ended with a Week 18 loss to the New Orleans Saints. This led to speculation on social media about whether Belichick's coaching philosophies were outdated or if there was another reason for the decision.
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NFL analysts reported a disagreement between the Falcons front office and team owner Arthur Blank over hiring Belichick, leading to a change of direction. This report then developed into an ESPN article on Wednesday, detailing the failed move.
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Reports have surfaced about a rift between Patriots owner Kraft and Belichick over Tom Brady's exit post-2019 season. The tension reportedly escalated after the 2022 season, but Patriots president Jonathan Kraft stepped in to prevent a split. Following a lacklustre 4-13 finish in the 2023 season, Kraft and Belichick agreed to go their separate ways.
Insiders claim Belichick felt he had done everything right for the job, yet rumours swirled that Kraft considered cutting ties with him in 2022 and even warned Falcons owner Arthur Blank against trusting Belichick during his search for a coach.
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Belichick coached the New England Patriots for 24 seasons (Getty Images)Allegedly, Kraft told Blank that Belichick was "extremely difficult," "obstinate," "kind of stubborn" and "not worthy of his trust", influencing the Falcons' decision to pass on Belichick, with sources suggesting this advice was pivotal in opting for Morris instead.
In light of these allegations, a Patriots spokesperson has come forward to defend Kraft, insisting that he would never sabotage Belichick's chances at future coaching roles.
"Robert steadfastly denies saying anything negative to Arthur Blank about Bill Belichick after Robert and Bill mutually agreed to part ways," said Patriots spokesman Stacey James. "In fact, Robert advocated for Bill to get the job."
James further clarified that although Kraft might have expressed frustration with Belichick in private during challenging periods for the team, he would never impugn Belichick's character or trustworthiness, especially in conversations with another team owner. James also pointed out that if Kraft truly held any negative views of Belichick, it wouldn't make sense for him to have allowed Belichick to coach the Patriots for so long.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.