FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – OCTOBER 22: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots speaks with Mac Jones #10 in the second half of the game against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on October 22, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
It’s been reported that New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones had a part to play in Bill Belichick’s exit.

The Patriots have chosen to part ways with the six-time Super Bowl winner following a 4-13 finish to the 2023 season. And his departure will make for a very interesting offseason as he wants to continue coaching.

 

According to NBC Sports Boston’s Tom Curran, owner Robert Kraft’s decision to end the team’s association with Belichick was also based on his inability to get the best out of Jones. Curran claims that Jones’ going from “promising Tom Brady replacement” to being “literally unusable” was something Kraft blamed the coach for, among other questionable decisions.

“Belichick’s draft record has been spotty since 2013,” he added. “His return on a record-setting free agent splurge in ’21 was meager. Jones’ decline from promising (Tom) Brady replacement to literally unusable is, in the eyes of ownership, tied directly to Belichick’s coaching staff decisions after Josh McDaniels left.”

The quarterback is coming off his worst season in the NFL and has failed to live up to expectations after three campaigns. It was always going to be hard to fill the Tom Brady-sized void on the roster but a constant playoff presence probably wasn’t too much to ask for.

 

Whether the Pats decide to stick with Jones after getting rid of Belichick remains to be seen. But it wouldn’t be all that surprising if he were to thrive under another coach given his poor relationship with the former HC.