MAINE, Maine — What's the saying, all good things must come to an end?
After 24 seasons as the head coach of the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick is moving on. The announcement came Thursday during a news conference with Belichick and team owner Robert Kraft.
Belichick began the remarks, with a joke of all things, then announced he was leaving Foxboro after six Super Bowl wins.
“It’s with so many fond memories and thoughts that I think about the Patriots,” Belichick said. “I’ll always be a Patriot. I look forward to coming back here. But at this time, we’re going to move on. And I look forward, excited for the future.”
During his tenure, the Patriots dominated the AFC East, winning 17 division titles in a 19-year stretch. Belichick and Tom Brady won nine AFC Championships in their time together. Brady posted a thank you message to his long time coach on Instagram Thursday, calling him the best coach in the history of the NFL.
Belichick said he was thankful to have coached some of the best players in the league during his time in New England and thanked all the fans for their support over the years.
As football fans begin to speculate the next moves for Belichick and the Patriots, fans and former players spent time Thursday reflecting on arguably the most successful dynasty in NFL history.
“We were definitely spoiled," Nick Gauvin, a bartender at Cowbell in Westbrook said. “Football is going to be different without Belichick.”
Both Gauvin and his co-worker Matthew Cosgrove played football in college and both appreciated Belichick's coaching style and his now famous "Do Your Job" motto.
“[I] love coach Belichick, really happy with all the success we had, but excited for the future, so we’ll see what happens," Cosgrove said.
Both said they want Mike Vrabel—who was fired earlier this week by the Tennessee Titans and won three Super Bowls with the Patriots—to take over as the next head coach. For now, they'll need to prepare to watch their favorite team without the usual hooded-head coach on the sidelines.
Mike DeVito had some more unique reactions to the news. The former University of Maine football star played nine seasons in the NFL, three with the New York Jets—one of the Patriot's divisional rivals.
"I've been tortured by Tom Brady and Bill Belichick most of my adult life," he said. “It was a nightmare playing against those two guys.”
DeVito admitted, as a football fan, he's sad to see Belichick leave New England. However as the Jets fan he is, DeVito said he's happy to get the legendary coach out of the division.
The former defensive lineman didn't take the opportunity to criticize Belichick, rather he explained how much he respects what he's been able to do in his career. DeVito said it took a "perfect game" to beat the Patriots and when he thinks of professional football he thinks of Belichick and New England.
Maine native Matthew Mulligan spent time on both of the Gillette Stadium sidelines as a player. He lined up against the Patriots multiple times, and spent one season on New England's roster.
"You always understood what [Belichick] wanted of you, and I tried to do that every day I was in the facility. And I really enjoyed that year there," Mulligan said.
The tight end even shared stories of when the stoic head coach shared his lighter side to his team, to remind players he's a human and that football is meant to be fun.
Mulligan said Belichick implemented a culture of selflessness and hard work that "everyone bought into" and he was fortunate to have played for him.
Robert Kraft did not reveal if he had a new head coach in mind Thursday, but he told reporters he's looking for a coach to bring the Patriots back to their winning ways and the playoffs.
Patriots linebackers coach Jerod Mayo won a Super Bowl ring playing under Belichick and has interviewed for multiple head coaching vacancies since becoming a New England assistant in 2019. Mayo turned down a few interviews last off season before signing a contract extension to remain with the Patriots.