Belichick’s record is NOT in doubt
All the talk the last year or so is how long will it take for Belichick to break that grouchy old bastard Don Shula’s all time win record for NFL coaches. The magic number is 348. Belichick is 18 wins aways from the winningest coach of all time. He will never reach that mark. Not as the Patriot’s head coach. However, he will crack the all time losses record. Probably this year.
After Sunday’s loss to the Raiders, Belichick is 299-157 in his NFL coaching career. The record for most regular-season losses in NFL history is shared by Dan Reeves (who went 190-165-2) and Jeff Fisher (173-165-1). So if Belichick loses nine more games, he’ll break that record.
Counting the playoffs, the record for most career losses belongs to Tom Landry, who lost a total of 178 regular-season and postseason games in his coaching career. Belichick has lost 170 total games, so with nine more losses he’ll also break Landry’s record. SOURCE
I’m not going to be one of these Hardos who says “ya, the record doesn’t fucking matter. He’s still the best. It’s all about the Super Bowls!" No, it isn’t. Records are for history and legacy. In 50 year, 20 years, freaking 10 years the nuances of the modern day get lost and records remain. Bill Belichick, despite the disspointing performance he has showcased post Brady is the greatest coach of the modern era and if not for this slap stick operation the last 3 or 4 year would be the runaway greatest coach of all time, Period. That title is not cemented with out the All Time wins record. So, ya as a fan I kind of care about that stuff. As a fan you’re apart of it not just for the Sundays, but to be apart of something bigger. I wanted that moment to celebrate the coach in Foxboro as he toppled Shula and firmly rested his magnificent man boobs on top of the Rushmore of NFL coaches.
With the 2023 season looking like rock bottom for Belichick it’s not hard to imagine another nine losses piling up. There are 11 games left on the schedule. The Giants and Broncos are the only teams you could somewhat confidently say they Patriots stand a chance to squeak one out. Maybe, they get lucky and pull one off against an anemic Steelers offense or the Commanders or Colts. All three of those teams have proven to be more than capable of actually competing in the NFL this year though. The Patriots really haven’t.
Say, they do find 3 more wins this season. You have to imagine that’s the end of the line for Belichick in New England. Kraft can’t stand idly by watching him burry the franchise with gunners and long snappers. So, would Belichick search employment elsewhere? Just to face down his first loss with a new franchise being the very loss to make him the losingest coach of all time? No he wouldn’t.
The true outcome here is Patriots some how pull off 3-4 more wins. Belichick is back regardless because Kraft owes him $50 million and Mac is back because Kraft only owes him $2.7 million and away we go again. By the end of this fucking thing we’ll be begging for the day he broke the all time loss record.