Former Patriots coach Bill Belichick took out a full-page newspaper ad on Sunday to thank New England fans for their support over the years.
"Nowhere in America are pro sports fans as passionate as in New England and for 24 years, I was blessed to feel your passion and your power,” said the ad, which ran in Sunday’s Boston Globe and includes an image of Belichick overlooking a large crowd. "You were undaunted by weather, attended scorching hot training camp practices and braved Foxborough's coldest, wettest, snowiest, and windiest days."
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Belichick noted that while the Patriots are the only NFL team representing six states, the reality is that Patriots Nation knows no borders.
"'You traveled from coast to coast and internationally. Numerous times, you overtook opposing stadiums and were the last fans standing. We loved it! You gave our precious time, resources, and energy to our team. We appreciated it!"
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Belichick coached the Patriots to six Super Bowl championships and 17 AFC East titles in a 19-year span, and wrote fondly of Boston's Duck Boat victory parades.
“Six times, you packed Boston by the millions for parades that were truly a two-way expression of gratitude and love,” he wrote. “The images from those days are burned in my memory."
The Patriots, however, struggled after quarterback Tom Brady left, with three losing seasons in four years and a 4-13 record in 2023 that led to Belichick’s departure.
Although he interviewed twice for the Atlanta Falcons position, the offseason hiring cycle appears to have concluded without him landing a new job.
The hoodie-wearing coach known for being closed-lipped and refusing to engage with reporters or fans longing for information about the team even poked fun at his notorious reputation as a grouch on Sunday, writing in conclusion: “You may even have enjoyed my fashion sense and press conferences, or maybe you just tolerated them. I loved coaching here and, together, we experienced some amazing moments. Thank you all.”
