Rob Gronkowski makes bold predictions about Bill Belichick’s career, slams Patriots for ‘ugly’ firing of Jerod Mayo
When Bill Belichick became the head coach of the University of North Carolinahe emphatically said that he did not go there “to go”.
However, one of his former players, Rob Gronkowskidoes not agree.
Belichick, after being out of the NFL for the first time in nearly 50 years, agreed last month to become the next head coach at UNC, saying it was a dream come true to enter the college ranks.
However, Belichick has clearly found his success in the National Football League, and Gronk believes Belichick is still eyeing a return home.
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Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski celebrates his 16-yard reception with head coach Bill Belichick during an AFC divisional playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Foxborough, Massachusetts on January 16, 2016. (Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
When asked during a recent interview with Fox News Digital if he believed Belichick would retire as a Tar Heel, he said he didn’t think so.
“I think Bill, if he succeeds, will end up handing that program over to his son, whose son is just developing into a future head coach,” Gronkowski said. “I love his son, and he’s doing a great job on the college defensive line… So I believe Coach Belichick will have good success at UNC, but I believe his heart really belongs in the NFL and he’ll eventually go back to the NFL if it’s in three or four years, but I think he’s finishing his career as a head coach of an NFL team.”
Belichick was coaching New England Patriots in 24 seasons, winning six Super Bowls during his tenure – three of which came with Gronkowski as his star tight end. After the 2023 season, the coach and the team parted ways.
Without Belichick, the Pats had one of their worst seasons in recent memory, going 4-13, although Drake Maye gave fans something to be excited about. At the start of Sunday, they were the owners of the first overall pick, but with their win they will now be picking fourth. Gronkowski, who recently partnered with Bounty, says the paper towel brand could be enough to clean up the current mess in Foxboro.
“I’m a few minutes away right now. If I just walk over, grab my Bounty paper towel, it’s messy in there right now, and I’m just using Bounty paper towels with some wipes, man, I’ll probably be the head coach right after that,” he joked.
Gronkowski joined future Hall of Famer Drew Brees as his Bounty Wingman ahead of the playoffs, because as Buffalo native Gronk says, “You can’t have football without wings, and you can’t have wings without Bounty.”
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski and head coach Bill Belichick before the game against the Houston Texans at Gillette Stadium on September 22, 2016. (Winslow Townson-USA Today Sports)
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“That’s why I’m the whole package here. I’m all three: I love football, I love wings, and I love Bounty. And Drew Brees and I are going to New Orleans, we’re going to dominate the city, and we’re going to clean up our Bounty mess with paper towels,” he said. is Gronk, who surprisingly has never been in town, about his partnership with the Saints legend.
Following on from Belichick, the Patriots went to Jerod Mayo, drafted by Belichick himself years ago. But after just one season, he got the ax, and Gronk wasn’t happy.
“I was surprised when I heard Jerod was fired. I mean, I felt it was kind of unfair to him because he took over a team that was going to take some time to build and develop to get back to winning ways,” he said. . “I mean, the roster was depleted, Jerod was a rookie head coach, and I felt like he needed another year to really evaluate him based on how he was going to develop and grow after that first season. But obviously, right after that first season , it was obvious that [Robert] Kraft felt like he just wasn’t the guy to build a winning culture. So Kraft simply wasted no time and let Jerod’s duties go.
New England Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo speaks to the media, Oct. 18, 2024, in Harrow, England. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
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“Now I feel like Kraft is going to do everything he can in the process of hiring a new head coach that he believes will turn this program around and get them back to the playoffs as soon as possible. It’s kind of an ugly situation, but I feel for both sides, but also , I feel there wasn’t enough time to evaluate Jerod Mayo.”
Speculation is rife that Mike Vrabel will coach the Pats – he played for New England and became the coach of the Tennessee Titans after his playing days ended.
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