Bill Belichick opens up on why he walked away from the Jets all those years ago

One of the most infamous moments in New York Jets history, at least in the 21st century, has to be when Bill Belichick resigned from the Jets out of the blue, writing his resignation on a tiny paper napkin to go and join the New England Patriots.

Belichick, who was twice named head coach of the Jets and served as the defensive coordinator from 1997 to 1999, was supposed to take over for his mentor, Bill Parcells, in New York.

Instead, the future Hall of Fame coach would jump ship to the Jets' AFC East rival. Belichick and Tom Brady would go on to win six Super Bowls together in New England, leaving New York fans wondering what could have been.

Belichick doesn't often talk about what actually happened in January 2000, and what ultimately led to his decision to lead the Jets, but he recently sat down for an interview with Pardon My Take to share some details.

Bill Belichick reveals why he ultimately left the Jets for the Patriots

Belichick was incredibly honest with co-hosts Dan Katz and Eric Sollenberger, and spoke about the Jets' troubling ownership situation when he was set to take over as head coach.

"I had worked for (Art) Modell, and the two trains coming down the track were (James) Dolan and Woody Johnson. I just felt like...I don't feel comfortable with whichever one of those guys ends up with the team."

Bill Belichick

Leading into the 2000 season, the Jets were changing hands as longtime owner Leon Hess had passed away in May of the previous year.

As Belichick pointed out, the two leading candidates to buy the Jets were the owner of the New York Knicks and New York Rangers, James Dolan, and the man who would eventually go on to buy the team, Woody Johnson.

Having served under controversial Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell, Belichick was not going to take his chances with another iffy owner and decided to work for Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

"Nothing personal. I just had a bad experience and...I'm going to work for a good owner or an owner that I felt comfortable with, who would share a vision with or...I'm not working for that."

Bill Belichick

There's no use crying over spilt milk now. Belichick went on to become one of the greatest coaches in NFL history, and the Jets, well, stayed the Jets.

Gang Green would get their fair share of lick backs against Belichick's Patriots over the years, such as beating them in the divisional round of the 2010 AFC playoffs, and of course, beating their former defensive coordinator in his final game as head coach in New England at the end of the 2023 season.

But Jets fans are always going to wonder what could have been had Belichick stuck around in New York and the success that could've gone in the Jets' favor.

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