When Invoice Belichick grew to become the pinnacle coach on the University of North Carolina, he adamantly stated he didn’t go there “to depart.”
Nonetheless, one in every of his former gamers, Rob Gronkowski, disagrees.
Belichick, after being off an NFL sideline for the primary time in practically 50 years, agreed final month to develop into the subsequent head coach at UNC, saying it was a dream fulfilled to get into the faculty ranks.
Nonetheless, Belichick has clearly discovered his success with the Nationwide Soccer League, and Gronk believes Belichick nonetheless has his eyes on returning residence.
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Patriots tight finish Rob Gronkowski celebrates his 16-yard landing reception with head coach Invoice Belichick in the course of the AFC divisional playoff recreation towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs in Foxborough, Massachusetts, Jan. 16, 2016. (Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe through Getty Photographs)
When requested throughout a latest interview with Fox Information Digital whether or not he believed Belichick would retire as a Tar Heel, he stated he didn’t assume so.
“I believe if Invoice has success, he is gonna finally hand that program off to his son, whose son is simply creating to be a future head coach,” Gronkowski stated. “Love his son, and he is doing an ideal job within the defensive ranks of faculty… So I consider that Coach Belichick can have some good success at UNC, however I consider that his coronary heart actually belongs within the NFL ranks, and he is finally gonna return to the NFL if it is in three years or 4 years. However I believe he ends his profession teaching as a head coach for an NFL crew.”
Belichick coached the New England Patriots for twenty-four seasons, successful six Tremendous Bowls throughout his tenure – three of these got here with Gronkowski as his star tight finish. After the 2023 season, the coach and crew mutually agreed to half methods.
With out Belichick, the Pats had one in every of their worst seasons in latest reminiscence, going 4-13, though Drake Maye gave followers one thing to be enthusiastic about. Coming into Sunday, they owned the primary general decide, however with their victory, they are going to now decide fourth. Gronkowski, who just lately partnered with Bounty, says the paper towel model may be sufficient to wash up the present mess in Foxboro.
“I am a few couple minutes away proper now. If I simply stroll over, seize my Bounty paper towel, it is messy over there proper now, and I simply use the Bounty paper towels with a few wipes, man, I am going to most likely be head coach proper after that,” he joked.
Gronkowski joined fellow future Corridor of Famer Drew Brees as his Bounty Wingman forward of the playoffs, as a result of as Buffalo native Gronk says, “You possibly can’t have soccer with out wings, and you may’t have wings with out Bounty.”
New England Patriots tight finish Rob Gronkowski and head coach Invoice Belichick earlier than their recreation towards the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on Sept. 22, 2016. (Winslow Townson-USA Immediately Sports activities)
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“That is why I am the complete bundle right here. I am all three of these: I really like soccer ball, I really like wings, and I really like Bounty. And Drew Brees and I are taking place to New Orleans, we’re gonna dominate town and we’re gonna clear up our mess with the Bounty paper towels,” Gronk, who, surprisingly, has by no means been out across the city, stated of his partnership with the Saints legend.
In shifting on from Belichick, the Patriots went to Jerod Mayo, a handpicked choice by Belichick himself years in the past. However, after only one season, he was axed, and Gronk was not happy.
“I used to be stunned to listen to about Jerod getting fired. I imply, I felt prefer it was form of unfair to him, as a result of he took a crew over the place it was gonna want a while to construct and develop to get again to the successful methods.” he stated. “I imply, the roster was depleted, Jerod was a rookie head coach, and I felt like he wanted one other 12 months to have the ability to actually decide him based mostly on how he would develop and develop after that first season. However clearly, simply after the primary season, it was obvious that [Robert] Kraft felt like he was simply not the man to construct a tradition round again to its successful methods. So subsequently, Kraft was simply losing no time and let go of Jerod’s duties.
New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo speaks with the media, Oct. 18, 2024, in Harrow, England. (AP Picture/Steve Luciano)
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“Now I really feel like Kraft can be doing all he can within the strategy of hiring a brand new head coach that he believes will flip round this program and get them again into the playoffs as quickly as attainable. It is form of an unpleasant scenario, however I really feel for either side. You gotta win, but additionally, I simply really feel prefer it wasn’t sufficient time to judge Jerod Mayo.”
The overwhelming hypothesis is that Mike Vrabel will man the Pats – he performed for New England and have become the coach of the Tennessee Titans after his taking part in days ended.
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