The New England Patriots recently unveiled a statue of quarterback Tom Brady outside Gillette Stadium, prompting questions about whether one of former coach Bill Belichick might also be a possibility.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft said he would like to place a statue of Belichick outside the team’s home stadium, despite the reported tension between the two men. Kraft suggested he would have that conversation once Belichick’s coaching career comes to an end.
“When that great 20-year era ended, it was always my intention to commission a statue for both Tommy and Bill when their respective careers were over, playing and coaching,” Kraft told Dan Roche of WBZ-TV during an interview on Wednesday. “When Bill’s coaching career ends, we look forward to sitting down with him and having a statue made to be right next to Tommy.”
Kraft is kicking the can down the road a bit by saying he will have the discussion when Belichick retires. Nobody knows when that will be, as the coach just embarked on a new job at North Carolina. The 73-year-old has shown no real inclination of slowing down anytime soon.
Relations between Kraft and Belichick have not been great since Belichick was dismissed as Patriots coach in January 2024. While Kraft has credited Belichick for his coaching, there are definitely some underlying issues there that go back even before Belichick’s exit.
Whatever their personal feelings may be, a statue for Belichick seems like a no-brainer. He won 266 regular season games and 30 playoff games with the Patriots, both of which are easily franchise records. His six Super Bowl titles are more than enough to justify the honor.
The Patriots unveiled Brady’s statue last month. The former quarterback even made some jokes about Belichick during the dedication ceremony.
