NFL fans react to Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft taking a shot together: "Bill looks like he hates him," "Bill was uncomfortable"

Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft have a complicated history.

When Kraft hired Belichick in 2000, the year Tom Brady was drafted, the New England Patriots were coming off tying for dead last in the AFC East. But by the end of the 2001-02 season, they had become Super Bowl champions for the first time.

They would win five more rings together; but for all the success, Belichick would grow ever more distant from Kraft, until he was ditched in 2024 after a career-worst 4-13 record. However, on Sunday's Netflix roast of Brady, the two appeared to act like friends again when they shared a shot at the behest of Kevin Hart:

Keener fans could sense that something was off:

Others, meanwhile, could only marvel at the reconciliatory moment:

"Pretty badass," one praised.

"THIS IS AMAZING," one more cheered.

"I love it," gushed another.

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Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick beef explained

The Bill Belichick-Robert Kraft feud is one of the more fascinating behind-the-scenes stories in NFL history: a tale of conflict amidst success.

The Apple TV docuseries The Dynasty, which Belichick called “a hit piece”, goes into further detail, but it arguably did not become profound until the early 2016 season.

Tom Brady was serving a four-game suspension for his role in Deflategate. In his stead, Jimmy Garoppolo started the first two games, impressing the head coach enough to consider making him the new starter in the future.

However, Brady had envisioned himself playing well into his 40s; and his presence continued to consign the 2014 62nd overall pick to the bench. In early 2017, Kraft had a meeting with Belichick and “won“, convincing his coach to stick with the resurgent veteran. Garoppolo was traded to the San Francisco 49ers that October.

Perhaps the biggest event in this beef occurred in 2020. Brady wanted to continue playing, but Belichick stood in his way. For once, Kraft actually sided with the coach - the quarterback would join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers shortly afterwards.

But the years since then were marked by just one playoff appearance in four seasons. Meanwhile, Jerod Mayo, a former Patriots linebacker who had since become a top defensive assistant, was becoming one of Kraft’s favorites, which worried Belichick, who felt that the culture that he had built was being eroded by the owner.

The relationship ended in 2024, when the team announced that it and Belichick would part ways. Mayo succeeded him as head coach.