Bill Belichick told Robert Kraft to get rid of Tom Brady during QB's final season with Patriots - Reports

Earlier this week, head coach Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots parted ways after 24 seasons together. The team finished 4-13 in the regular season, their worst record since the 1992 campaign, where they mustered only two wins.

The Patriots' steady decline under Belichick began towards the end of the 2019 season. Quarterback Tom Brady and the offense struggled in the home stretch. In the playoffs, a lackluster performance against the Tennessee Titans ended in a 20-13 defeat, and the speculation around Brady's future with the franchise intensified.

Eventually, Brady left the Patriots after 20 seasons with the team and joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In his first season with the franchise, he led the team to a Super Bowl win and was named the Super Bowl MVP. In New England, the Patriots finished 7-9 with former NFL MVP Cam Newton under center and missed the playoffs.

ESPN's Seth Wickersham recently revealed that Patriots owner Robert Kraft was miffed with Belichick after Brady and the Buccaneers' Super Bowl win. In a private conversation, the billionaire said:

"Bill had told me he couldn't play anymore and then he goes out and wins the f---ing Super Bowl."

Belichick pushed for Brady's exit from the Patriots, and Kraft trusted his head coach's judgment. It backfired spectacularly, and the relationship between the two deteriorated.

Three seasons later, Belichick is out as the head coach of the Patriots after leading the team to six Super Bowl wins.

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Is Bill Belichick retiring?

Former New England Patriots HC Bill Belichick

The Patriots have already moved on from Bill Belichick. The team announced that former Patriots star and the team's linebackers coach, Jerod Mayo, will lead the team next season. He's the youngest head coach in the NFL.

As for Belichick, his future remains uncertain. No team has emerged as a frontrunner to land the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach. There have been rumors, but nothing concrete yet.

It's unlikely that Belichick will retire. He's 26 wins away from legendary head coach Don Shula's NFL record of 328. Including playoff wins, he's 15 away from the former Miami Dolphins head coach.

While no team has thrown their hat in the ring for Belichick's services, he'll likely have multiple suitors by the end of the playoffs. His resume and pedigree are unmatched. It shouldn't be long before Belichick begins planning the new chapter of his coaching career after an incredible run in New England.