Report: Belichick Leaving Mac Jones in Patriots Games Was a ‘F–k You’ to Kraft

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Bill Belichick’s 24-year reign as New England Patriots head coach and de-facto general manager included six Super Bowls and nine AFC titles, but it didn’t end well, with the offense bottoming out amid a 4-13 season.

In the midst of that campaign, starting quarterback Mac Jones was benched on multiple occasions as his struggles mounted during the season. He was kept in games at times despite those issues, though, and that was reportedly done as a “f–k you” to team owner Robert Kraft.

ESPN’s Seth Wickersham, Wright Thompson and Don Van Natta Jr. provided more insight amid an in-depth piece on the end of Belichick’s Patriots tenure.

“Belichick’s missteps on roster construction — and in games — had given the Krafts an opening. The offense had no explosive players. Jones looked lost; the alternatives looked worse. Belichick cut backup Bailey Zappe in the preseason, then re-signed him after he cleared waivers. Players thought third-stringer Malik Cunningham could have added a big-play dimension to the offense, but he saw action only in a loss to the Raiders on Oct. 15. He was cut a week later — and 10 days after Belichick signed him to a three-year contract — and signed by Baltimore, the type of front-running move the Patriots used to execute. Local reporters asked Belichick and O’Brien whether Jones would be benched; instead, Belichick left him in games, even when it was clear the quarterback was losing confidence.”

“‘A f— you to Kraft,’ a confidant of Belichick’s said.”

Jones was ultimately benched for good on Nov. 26 in the middle of a 10-7 loss at the New York Giants after he completed 12-of-21 passes for 89 yards and two interceptions.

Kraft told reporters at Belichick’s goodbye press conference Thursday that the team and coach had “mutually agreed to part ways amicably.”

It doesn’t appear that Belichick’s time in New England ended amicably, however, per ESPN’s report.

“Belichick had sent clear signals internally for weeks that he thought he was coaching his final games for the Patriots,” the report stated.

“He also made it clear that he was ready to move on, telling confidants that Robert Kraft and his son, team president Jonathan Kraft, had eroded the culture he had built over two decades.”

It’s clear Jones may have gotten caught in the middle of the rift. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk had pointed out as much during that Giants game.

ProFootballTalk @ProFootballTalkI’m starting to think Bill Belichick is still playing Mac Jones as a middle finger both to Jones and to ownership.

Jones ended the season as an inactive player/third quarterback in case of emergency.

Per ESPN, Belichick broached the idea of trading Jones to ownership before this season, but he did not get their blessing. Kraft reportedly wanted to see how Jones would do under new offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien, hoping that the signal-caller could recapture his rookie year success and promise under then-OC Josh McDaniels.

“Then, during offseason planning meetings, Belichick later told people in the building, he raised the idea to the Krafts of trading quarterback Mac Jones. The Krafts had embraced Jones after he was drafted in the first round in 2021, hoping to build something close to a Brady-like relationship with him.

“Jones played well as a rookie under then-coordinator McDaniels, then regressed in 2022 under Belichick’s patchwork offensive staff. Ownership argued against trading him, wanting to see what Jones could do with O’Brien calling plays, which this past week they denied saying through a team spokesperson. Belichick technically could have traded Jones, but he ceded to his bosses.”

Jones didn’t fare nearly as well after McDaniels left to be the Las Vegas Raiders’ head coach and Joe Judge and Matt Patricia took over the offense in 2022. His worst year was arguably 2023, when he threw for more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (10).

Perhaps Belichick was trying to prove a point to Kraft when he left Jones in games for longer than he should have. Ultimately, the Pats have now moved forward by promoting inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo to be their new head coach. It remains to be seen what happens to Jones, who certainly hasn’t benefitted from offensive leadership changes.