New York (AFP) - Bill Belichick, the NFL mastermind who has guided the New England Patriots to a record six Super Bowl titles as head coach, is parting ways with the team after 24 seasons, according to multiple US media reports on Thursday.
The Patriots announced an afternoon news conference involving Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft while ESPN, the NFL Network and other outlets reported the split, citing unnamed sources.
His departure would leave eight NFL teams without a head coach, with speculation about where Belichick might coach next or if he would retire at age 71.
Other NFL teams without a head coach currently include Atlanta, Seattle, Washington, Tennessee, Carolina, Las Vegas and the Los Angeles Chargers.
The parting will be on friendly terms, ESPN reported, saying Kraft and Belichick have spoken often in the past few days and that the Patriots would not seek compensation from any rival for Belichick, who has one year remaining on his New England contract.
Belichick's 333 career triumphs as an NFL head coach, including playoffs, rank second on the NFL's all-time list, 14 shy of the record 347 won by Don Shula.
Belichick began his NFL career in 1975 as an assistant coach for the then-Baltimore Colts and just completed his 49th consecutive season in the NFL.
In the meantime, the Patriots will embark on their first head coaching search in a quarter-century.
The move comes only hours after legendary University of Alabama coach Nick Saban, a long-time friend of Belichick, retired as coach of the college football powerhouse.
Belichick, known for his glowering presence on the sidelines, wearing a hoodie and headset, directed one of the greatest dynasty runs in American sport after taking over the Patriots for the 2000 campaign.
He replaced Pete Carroll, who parted ways with the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday at age 72 after 14 seasons.
The exit of the three 70-something coaching giants marked the end of an era.
New England captured NFL crowns in the 2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016 and 2018 seasons.
Belichick also owns NFL coaching records for Super Bowl wins and appearances as a head coach with nine. His 31 playoff game triumphs is another coaching mark.
But when superstar quarterback Tom Brady departed after the 2019 campaign, Belichick's Patriots began to struggle.
Career-worst 4-13 mark
New England has missed the NFL playoffs three of the past four seasons, and the 4-13 campaign that ended last Sunday was the worst as a head coach in Belichick's career.
He will, however, be remembered for his winning ways. Belichick's nine total Super Bowl appearances with the Patriots are more than any team in the NFL except for New England.
New England went 266-120 under Belichick over 24 seasons and won 17 AFC East division titles, the most by any head coach with a single club. The Patriots took 11 division titles in a row from 2009-2019, the longest streak in NFL history.
Only six other coaches have spent more than 20 seasons with one NFL club and they have all been selected to the American Football Hall of Fame.
Belichick was also a member of two Super Bowl championship teams with the New York Giants as a defensive coordinator.
While Belichick became a legend with the Patriots, New England was not his first stop as an NFL head coach. He went 36-44 in five seasons with the Cleveland Browns from 1991 through 1995, but managed only one winning season and one playoff win.
Belichick was an assistant coach under six NFL head coaches, including former New York Giants standout Bill Parcells, while 20 former assistant coaches under Belichick has become NFL or collegiate head coaches, including current New York Giants coach Brian Daboll.
In addition, three former players under Belichick as a head coach became NFL head coaches, including current Minnesota head coach Kevin O'Connell.
