Bill Belichick's Exit Sparks Tears, Gratitude From Patriots Fans

New England Patriots fans were rocked by the news that legendary head coach Bill Belichick will part ways with the organization on Thursday.

Belichick spent 24 seasons in New England. He and Tom Brady won their first Super Bowl in 2001 and their last one in 2018.

ESPN's Adam Schefter and Mike Reiss were the first to report Belichick's exit, and while the Patriots didn't confirm it, they did announce their plans to have a joint press conference with Belichick and Robert Kraft on Thursday at noon.

Belichick's pending exit was a poorly kept secret—local media began reporting that he was likely done midway through the season—but the departure of the six-time Super Bowl champion was still the end of an era.

Patriots fans were emotional about it.

"Belichick was my childhood man. I'm in tears," @HarperNation85 wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

"For almost a quarter of a century it was, 'in Bill we trust.' Who we gonna trust now? Happy trails Bill. You will be missed more than I think people know," @HonestLarry1 posted.

"This guy is gonna win another Super Bowl and break the all time wins record somewhere in the next three years. Bill Belichick. The [GOAT]. Thank you," user @BostonConnr wrote.

"He didn't do it alone, but Bill Belichick is responsible for probably a dozen of the happiest moments of my life as a sports fan. Truly the greatest of the greatest of the great," @RyanBenharris posted.

User SteveMerkle9 has an idea that will resonate with anyone who has attended a game at Gillette Stadium: "to honor bill belichick they should build a legitimate highway system to get in and out of foxboro and name it after him, 1 lane is not enough."

Patriots defensive tackle Davon Godchaux offered his gratitude to Belichick, calling him "the greatest!" on X.

Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III believes Belichick needs to evolve if he hopes to break the all-time NFL wins record set by Don Shula since he isn't coaching Brady anymore. As things stand, Belichick is 15 wins short of Shula's record of 347 victories.

"Bill Belichick is the Greatest NFL Head Coach of All-Time and should have been allowed to break the All-Time wins record in New England. If he keeps coaching, he has to adapt and understand the Patriot Way is DEAD and doesn't work ESPECIALLY when you don't have Tom Brady," Griffin wrote on X.

Members of the media, meanwhile, reminisced on what it was like to cover Belichick.

"It might not have always seemed like it during many of the gruff answers in press conferences, but it was a complete joy to report on the Bill Belichick era in New England. How many people get to say that they covered the greatest head coach in NFL history? I got to ask him questions, pick his brain, learn from him and cover playoff games and Super Bowls because of his coaching," Boston Herald Patriots beat reporter Doug Kyed wrote on X.

Other users pointed out how strange it is to see both Belichick and Alabama coach Nick Saban exit their respective strongholds within 24 hours of each other.

And, of course, the internet couldn't resist making a few jokes.

"Bill Belichick has had two head coaching opportunities and he's been fired from them both. It's time to start asking if he has the chops to stick around in the NFL," @PanasonicDX4500 wrote.

X user @BlooperBraves has an outside-the-box idea: