‘Wasn’t a Actual Good Expertise for Me’
Earlier than Invoice Belichick began his legendary stint with the New England Patriots, the top coach had a tough time with the New York Jets. In actual fact, Belichick was named the Jets’ head coach twice, however not as soon as did he ever lead the staff. Unusual, proper?
When Invoice Belichick Turned in His Resignation a Day After He Was Introduced as Jets HC
The Jets introduced Belichick because the staff’s interim head coach in February 1997 as they tried checking out the problems with the Patriots to permit Invoice Parcells to affix the Jets. Six days later, when each groups reached an settlement, Parcells joined as the top coach.
In the meantime, Belichick labored because the staff’s assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. But, it’s his resignation because the Jets head coach in January 2000 that is still one of the crucial dramatic moments in NFL historical past.
When Parcells — whom Belichick labored below with the Patriots and the New York Giants — stepped down because the Jets’ HC after the 1999 season, Belichick was in line to succeed since he had labored below him the previous two seasons.
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The Jets made the announcement to make it official. Nonetheless, in the future later, as a substitute of speaking to the media because the Jets’ new head coach, Belichick turned in his resignation to the shock of many.
He cited his causes throughout a 12-minute press convention on Jan. 4, 2000.
“To the varied uncertainties surrounding my place because it pertains to the staff’s new possession, I’ve determined to resign as the top coach of the New York Jets,” Belichick mentioned.
Belichick cited his prior experiences with groups in transition, hinting on the challenges he confronted in Cleveland in the course of the Browns’ tumultuous transfer to Baltimore.
“I’ve been in a scenario the place I used to be the top coach of a staff in transition… Frankly, it wasn’t an actual good expertise for me, and it wasn’t an excellent expertise for them,” he added.
On the coronary heart of Belichick’s issues was the uncertainty surrounding the Jets’ future following the loss of life of Leon Hess, the staff’s proprietor on the time. The franchise was within the strategy of being offered. With out readability on the incoming possession’s imaginative and prescient or management fashion, Belichick struggled to see a path ahead.
“There are issues which can be past anybody’s management,” he mentioned. “As a lot as [Hess] would need issues resolved, for no matter purpose, they aren’t.”
“I’ve to be trustworthy with myself. I’ve to do what I’m snug doing and what I really feel is correct,” Belichick added.
Jets Acquired First-Spherical Compensation After Patriots Allegedly Poached Belichick
Earlier than Parcells stepped down as head coach, the Patriots requested the Jets to permit them to interview Belichick to fill their emptiness.
Quickly after Belichick resigned as New York’s HC, he was introduced because the Patriots head coach. This appeared all fairly handy to the Jets, who complained to NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue that New England interviewed Belichick when he was nonetheless below contract with them.
Tagliabue agreed, and the Patriots have been compelled to surrender their first-round draft decide to the Jets in 2000.
