Bill Belichick fires back at Robert Kraft's ‘big risk' comment in rare move
In a highly unusual move, Belichick has responded to comments Kraft made last month in which the owner said he took a 'big risk' by giving up a first-round pick to steal Belichick away from the Jets in 2000.
'As I told Robert multiple times through the years, I took a big risk by taking the New England Patriots head coaching job,' Belichick told ESPN. 'I already had an opportunity to be the Head Coach of the New York Jets, but the ownership situation was unstable.'
5 Patriots owner Robert Kraft (l.) and Bill Belichick (r.) during a press conference announcing Belichick's departure from the team on Jan. 11, 2024.
AFP via Getty Images
There was a bidding war for the Jets at the time between eventual winner Woody Johnson and Charles Dolan in the wake of former owner Leon Hess' death.
Belichick noted that concerns also engulfed the Patriots' opening.
'I had been warned by multiple previous Patriots' coaches, as well as other members of other NFL organizations and the media, that the New England job was going to come with many internal obstacles,' Belichick told ESPN. 'I made it clear that we would have to change the way the team was managed to regain the previously attained success.'
5 Robert Kraft speaking on the 'Dudes on Dudes' podcast at Fanatics Fest on June 20, 2025.
Darren Agboh/Shutterstock
During an appearance last month on ex-Patriots stars Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman's 'Dudes on Dudes' podcast at Fanatics Fest, Kraft said his decision to hire Belichick, whom he gave roster control to, was the best decision he's made as the team's owner, noting he got questioned for giving up a first-round pick for a coach who had a 36-44 record over five seasons leading the Browns.
'I don't know if there are any Jets fans here. I think getting Bill Belichick to come to the Patriots in [2000] was a big risk, and I got hammered in the Boston area, but he was with us for 24 years,' Kraft told the crowd at Javits Center. 'And we did OK.'
After going 5-11 in his first season as the Patriots' head coach, Belichick led them to a Super Bowl title the following season as Tom Brady emerged as a franchise QB after Drew Bledsoe was sidelined by an early-season crushing hit from the Jets' Mo Lewis.
5 Robert Kraft (l.) and Bill Belichick (r.) after the Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVIII on Feb. 1, 2004.
AFP via Getty Images
Belichick, Kraft and Brady ultimately won six Super Bowls in New England, with Brady earning another ring with the Buccaneers.
The 73-year-old Belichick, now he head coach at UNC after a stunning move to the college ranks, told ESPN he 'appreciated Robert giving me the opportunity' to shake up the Patriots' roster, but said 'you'll have to ask Robert' why he described Belichick's hiring as a 'big risk.'
Belichick makes no mention of Kraft in his book 'The Art of Winning: Lessons from My Life in Football,' which was released in May.
5 Tom Brady (l.) and Robert Kraft (r.) at the FIFA Club World Cup final between Chelsea and PSG at MetLife Stadium on July 13, 2025.
Getty Images
He was asked about Kraft's conspicuous absence in the book during his disastrous 'CBS Sunday Morning' interview in April.
'[The book is] about my life lessons in football and it's really more about the ones I experienced directly,' Belichick said during the interview.
While Belichick's departure from the Patriots following a 4-13 season in 2023 was portrayed as 'mutual,' Kraft has since described the coach's exit as a firing.
Asked about that phrasing during the CBS interview, Belichick said, 'It was a mutual decision.'
5 Bill Belichick (l.) and girlfriend Jordon Hudson (r.) at the NFL Honors in New Orleans on Feb. 6, 2025.
Getty Images
It was after that interview that Belichick's relationship with 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson became further scrutinized, as Hudson shut down a question about how they met as she loomed off to the side.
'We're not talking about this,' Hudson interjected.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
12 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Eagles Insider Predicts Big Season Ahead for DeVonta Smith
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Just as the Philadelphia Eagles lost another wide receiver to an injury, another one returned to the practice field on Monday morning. After missing a few sessions, DeVonta Smith was back in the fold. According to an Eagles Insider, the veteran wide receiver has been putting together a "special" set of offseason practices as the Eagles head into the 2025 NFL season as the reigning Super Bowl Champions. via @ZBerm: Buy your DeVonta Smith stock now. Practices like today show why DeVonta Smith is so special on the Eagles. The Eagles were working on backed-up situations. Twice, Smith wiggled open (including a got-to-have-it third down) for what looked like easy completions. But they only look easy because of the way Smith wins early in the route. He had a "down" year last year with injury+ run-heavy offense. Expect a bounce-back season from him. Buy your DeVonta Smith stock now. Practices like today show why DeVonta Smith is so special on the Eagles. The Eagles were working on backed-up situations. Twice, Smith wiggled open (including a got-to-have-it third down) for what looked like easy completions. But they only look… — Zach Berman (@ZBerm) August 4, 2025 Back in 2021, the Eagles scouted Smith out of Alabama. At the time, he was one of the most notable players in the NFL Draft. Fresh off of two National Championship runs and a Heisman Trophy victory, Smith was called on with the 10th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Right away, Smith was a full-time starter as he appeared in 17 games during his rookie year. Despite the Eagles' struggles on offense, Smith was a bright spot, catching 64 passes for 916 yards and five touchdowns. By year two, Smith managed to rack up his first 1,000-yard season and added seven touchdowns to go with it. DeVonta Smith #6 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs with the football during the second quarter in the NFC Championship Game against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on January 26, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. DeVonta Smith #6 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs with the football during the second quarter in the NFC Championship Game against the Washington Commanders at Lincoln Financial Field on January 26, 2025 in Philadelphia, 2023, Smith missed a little bit of action, but it didn't prevent him from crossing the 1,000-yard threshold once again. He added seven more touchdowns to his career total. The 2024 season didn't go the way Smith had planned. Entering the season with a brand new $75 million extension, there was a lot of pressure on Smith to continue putting up WR1 numbers. Unfortunately, he missed a handful of games. Still, Smith produced well when he was on the field. In 13 games, he caught 68 passes for 833 yards. He reached the endzone eight times, which marked a new career high. When the Eagles went through their championship run, Smith racked up 190 yards in four games. He scored just one touchdown, which happened to be the dagger catch in the Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs. This offseason, the Eagles have been cautious with Smith, who has been dealing with a back injury. Although he missed a few sessions, the star wide receiver is back on the field, helping the team get prepared for its first preseason action, which is set to take place on Thursday. For more Philadelphia Eagles and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Patriots Get Worst Possible News On Injured CB
Patriots Get Worst Possible News On Injured CB originally appeared on The Spun. The New England Patriots suffered a brutal injury blow in training camp. Marcellas Dial Jr. was carted off the field during Monday's practice, and a report confirmed the worst-case scenario. Dial tore his ACL, according to ESPN's Mike Reiss. The 24-year-old will presumably miss his entire second season after appearing in all 17 games as a rookie. Dial saw most of his action on special teams, tallying 12 tackles and a forced fumble. New England selected Dial with the No. 180 pick out of South Carolina last year. He played 55 of his 60 defensive snaps in a Week 18 victory over the Buffalo Bills. Losing Dial hurts a Patriots secondary facing more concerns atop the depth chart. Christian Gonzalez remains absent from practice after suffering a reported hamstring injury last week. The second-team All-Pro cornerback is not expected to miss the start of the regular season, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz. Gonzalez missed all but four games of his rookie season with a dislocated shoulder and torn labrum. The first-round pick returned to anchor New England's defense with 11 pass breakups and two interceptions in 2024. New England bolstered the cornerback position by signing Carlton Davis III to a three-year, $60 million contract. The 28-year-old has missed most of training camp before returning to Monday's walkthrough. Diaz can no longer earn a rotational role in a unit also featuring seventh-round picks Alex Austin, Kobee Minor, and Isaiah Bolden. Nickel cornerback Marcus Jones also returns to Foxborough for his fourth season. The Patriots ranked 23rd in passing defense last season, allowing a 64.9 percent completion rate with just seven interceptions. New England went 4-13 for the second straight season but enters 2025 with higher hopes behind new head coach Mike Vrabel and an upgraded roster welcoming Stefon Diggs, Milton Williams, and Harold Landry III. Vrabel's squad already lost a key contributor before Friday's first preseason game against the Washington Commanders. The Patriots open the regular season by hosting Tom Brady's Las Vegas Raiders in Week Get Worst Possible News On Injured CB first appeared on The Spun on Aug 5, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Aug 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
NBC Sports
an hour ago
- NBC Sports
Deion Sanders and his coaching staff at Colorado boast a combined 160 years of NFL experience
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Warren Sapp strictly enforces Colorado players being in straight lines while stretching at practice. Marshall Faulk harps over and over on proper footwork. These two Hall of Fame players turned coaches are sticklers for the little things. That's on orders from the third member of their gold-coat club: Deion Sanders. Sapp and Faulk are part of a Buffaloes coaching staff that boasts 160 years of total NFL experience (playing, coaching or covering). The crew runs a no-nonsense, tight-knit operation, which came in handy when Sanders was away and fighting bladder cancer. The coaching staff keeps reaffirming what Sanders always stresses — paying attention to the details. 'It's the little things that will make us great,' explained Sapp, who is the defensive pass-rush specialist for the Buffaloes this season. 'It's the tedious repetition of the little things, over and over and over again. That's what we do. 'He (Sanders) has so much other things on his plate. I figured I'd handle the little things. ... We really don't ask much of them, except, let's go to work and that's what we're going to do.' In addition to Sapp and Faulk, the list of coaches that Sanders has assembled with NFL experience includes offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, defensive coordinator Robert Livingston, receivers coach Jason Phillips, defensive passing game coordinator/cornerbacks coach Kevin Mathis, defensive line coach Domata Peko, and offensive line coaches George Hegamin and Andre Gurode. Combined — and, of course, counting Sanders — that's 27 Pro Bowls, five Super Bowl titles, an NFL MVP (Faulk), three Pro Football Hall of Famers (Sanders, Faulk, Sapp), two NFL defensive player of the year honors (Sapp, Sanders) and an NFL offensive player of the year recipient (Faulk, three times). 'When you have a whole bunch of guys that's been there and done that, and played in the league, it's definitely a blessing for us,' Peko said. 'Everyone kind of checks their egos at the door, and we all just try to collaborate together.' The Buffaloes may be adding more experience, too. Sanders said at Big 12 media day last month he's trying to bring in ex-NFL QB Byron Leftwich and former Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer to the staff. 'With those two added, that's 204 years of NFL experience,' Sanders said, 'and I want those years.' Faulk and Sapp were both in Canton, Ohio, last weekend for the Hall of Fame induction ceremony. There, they hung out with the greats of the game, with Sapp recording personal video messages from past players to show his impressionable Buffaloes. 'I just soak it up from them, and I bring it back to the babies, because just hearing it from me, they hear me all the time,' said Sapp, who had 96 1/2 sacks over his 13-year-career. 'But when John Randle was on (the video), and I can see their eyes pop up I got a whole new message. ... I'm going to give them everything I got.' For Faulk, being in Canton just reaffirmed his passion for football — and coaching. 'I literally sold popcorn in the Superdome because I couldn't afford a ticket to watch the sorriest team in the '80s — the Saints,' cracked Faulk, whose Buffaloes open the season Aug. 29 by hosting Georgia Tech. 'I just love football and to be around the guys (in Canton) who gave me the opportunity to play this game and left the game in my hands, there's nothing like it. 'But it was the first time I'd been there and wanted to be somewhere else.' Namely, working with his fleet of running backs. Sophomore Micah Welch was in the lunch room when he heard about the hiring of Faulk in February. Welch went home that night and pulled up some highlight footage. 'It was amazing,' Welch said. Faulk was dazzling on the field, a dual threat out of the backfield who spent his 12 seasons in the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts and the St. Louis Rams. He rushed for 12,279 yards and 100 TDs, while also catching 767 passes for 6,875 yards and 36 scores. He's teaching his tailbacks the little things like footwork — 'I'm a stickler for footwork,' Faulk said — along with how they receive a handoff from their QB. 'After that, go be creative,' Faulk said. 'But we all start with the canvas and the paint brush the same way before we go make art.' For Faulk, it was an easy decision to join Sanders in Boulder. They've been longtime friends. 'Coming here not just to win games on the field, but to win the game off the field, which is to make sure that these young men in life become what they want to become,' the 52-year-old Faulk said. 'That's the important part.'
