New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Tedy Bruschi offers sobering advice to Bill Belichick, Patriots

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated 10/16/23

With the losses stacking up, there’s a growing contingency of New England Patriots fans who want to see head coach and general manager Bill Belichick part ways with the team.

Count former Pats linebacker Tedy Bruschi among them. The two-time Second Team All-Pro recently voiced his concerns for the direction of the franchise under Belichick’s leadership, stating the writing might be on the wall for the future Hall of Fame coach.

“I want him to coach his a—off this season,” Bruschi said during an appearance on “NFL Live” on Sunday. “Get six, seven wins, have them playing respectable by the end of the season and walk away. That’s what I want my former coach to do. (Don) Shula doesn’t matter. You’ve got multiple Super Bowls over Shula; you’re a better coach.”

Others around the league aren't so sure Belichick is interested in a move away from the sidelines.

"Bill Belichick's life is all about football..

I can't see him not being involved in one way or another..

He lives it, loves it and it's part of his soul"@AdamSchefter #PMSLive https://t.co/SnKmivd7UM pic.twitter.com/pG30uWZVFu
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 16, 2023

Bruschi played nine seasons for Belichick, winning three Super Bowls and an NFL Comebacker Player of the Year award while making one Pro Bowl and two All-Pro teams.

During Bruschi’s tenure in New England, Belichick was one of, if not the most successful head coach in the NFL. Over that span, the Patriots had a 102-42 record with six division titles, four Super Bowl appearances and three Super Bowl championships, while Belichick himself was named AP NFL Coach of the Year twice.

But in the post-Tom Brady era, many are wondering if the future Hall of Fame quarterback is responsible for much (or all) of Belichick’s success. The Pats are 26-29 since Brady’s departure in 2020.

With the team sitting at 1-5 with slim hopes of making the playoffs, Bruschi believes Belichick may be more concerned with record hunting (he’s 30 wins away from breaking Don Shula’s all-time mark) instead of building New England into a long-term Super Bowl contender.

“If they get a top-five pick, Mr. Kraft has to decide if Bill is the right one to take one of those three, four quarterbacks, whatever it may be…and if he wants to start over with Bill,” Bruschi said during an appearance on “Get Up” on Monday. “Is it all about Shula, because if it is, we’ve really got to look in the mirror and say, ‘Where are we going in the future?’ That’s a tough decision for Mr. Kraft.”

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