Legendary coach Bill Belichick has been in the news plenty over the last several months after ending his one-year sabbatical from football by accepting the head coaching job at the University of North Carolina.
The multi-time Super Bowl champion has also finally addressed why New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is absent from his upcoming book, The Art of Winning.
Why Robert Kraft Is Missing From Bill Belichick’s Book
In a recent interview with CBS Sunday Morning’s Tony Dokoupil, Belichick explained that the book focuses solely on his personal journey and the lessons he learned directly, rather than spotlighting others.
“It’s about my life lessons in football, and it’s really more about the ones I experienced directly,” Belichick said when asked why Kraft wasn’t mentioned at all — not even in the acknowledgments.
The absence of Kraft has sparked major conversation across the NFL world. After all, Belichick and Kraft spent over two decades together, building a dynasty that delivered six Super Bowl titles to New England. Their partnership is widely considered one of the most successful in NFL history, making Kraft’s omission even more striking.
From 2000 to 2023, Belichick and Kraft led New England to six league championships and 17 AFC East titles. On the surface, their relationship was one of the most successful in sports. But behind the scenes, rumors of tension have popped up over the years, especially near the end of their time together.
Even with the ups and downs, a lot of fans figured Kraft would at least get a shoutout. Instead, Belichick left him out completely and that’s got people talking.
Belichick’s Reason Explained
When Dokoupil pushed again, asking if Kraft was left out on purpose, Belichick just nodded and said, “Correct.” No extra explanation. Just kept it moving.
His short answer added more fuel to the fire that maybe their relationship wasn’t as strong by the time Belichick left New England. The book is being pitched as a deep dive into Belichick’s strategies, leadership style, and football mindset all based on his personal experiences, not partnerships or friendships.
Bill Belichick’s Next Chapter: North Carolina Head Coach
After splitting with the Patriots, Belichick surprised everyone by jumping back into the college game. He’s now the head coach at the University of North Carolina.
It’s a big move for the Tar Heels, who are looking to get back into the national spotlight. Belichick brings decades of NFL experience, and a no-nonsense approach that could totally change the culture at UNC. A lot of people think it’s a perfect final act for one of the greatest football minds ever coaching up the next generation.
Belichick’s decision to leave Kraft out of his story says a lot about where things stand now. As he starts a new chapter at UNC, it’s clear Belichick is doing things his way just like he always has.