Should Bill Belichick be on the hot seat if the Patriots have a losing season?

Ever since letting the greatest player in the history of the NFL walk away in 2020, Bill Belichick has been under immense pressure to win.

Since Brady’s departure, the head coach has had only one winning season in three years, and it makes you wonder how long his leash is with Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

Ultimately, if Belichick has his third losing season in the last four years, he should be on the hot seat and potentially fired.

The number one thing that bugs me about Belichick is the fact that Kraft seems to have given him a pass for letting Brady go when he was still playing at an elite level. It seems as if Belichick has reached a status of immortality that is not deserving anymore.

Why does Belichick get to let Brady walk when he thinks he has lost a step, but Kraft can’t do the same for Belichick?

Belichick has clearly lost a step as a head coach, and the game has passed him. His conservative play calling, thinking he can win with an average quarterback, and overvaluing of special teams has let him down in recent seasons.

The key to success in the modern NFL has been getting a young, offensive-minded head coach to pair with a young quarterback.

Belichick does not fit this current model and has become a dinosaur in the league.

If the Patriots win a playoff game and show significant progress, Belichick should keep his job. But, if the season goes sideways like a year ago, his job should 100% be in jeopardy.

Kraft has to value the franchise's future, and he should not prioritize Belichick breaking Don Shula’s record for the most wins by a head coach. The future is more important than a record.

Ultimately, it will be interesting to see if Belichick feels the pressure this season.