UNC coach Bill Belichick reflects on his infamous one-sentence resignation, citing a lack of trust in potential ownership before launching a dynastic six-ring run with the New England Patriots.
Before becoming the head coach of North Carolina, Bill Belichick was the head coach of three NFL teams in his career.
Belichick went 36-44 during his five seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Before he was set to be introduced as the head coach of the New York Jets in 2000, Belichick resigned, writing a brief note to announce the decision.
"I resign as HC of the NYJ," Belichick wrote.
Not long after his resignation, Belichick went on to be named as the head coach of the New England Patriots. He made it to nine Super Bowls with New England, winning six of them.
For an unexplainable reason, Belichick didn't become a first-ballot Hall of Fame head coach. However, the legendary coach made some enemies along the way.
During an appearance on Barstool's "Pardon My Take" published on Monday, Belichick explained why he resigned. He wanted to coach for a good owner, and didn't feel Woody Johnson or Charles Dolan would make great partners with the coaching staff.
"Well, I mean, I had worked for (Art) Modell and the two trains that were coming down the tracks were Dolan and Woody Johnson," Belichick said. "And I just felt like I don't feel comfortable working for whichever one of those guys ends up with the team.
"Nothing personal. I just, I had a bad experience and I was either I'm gonna work for a good owner or an owner that I felt comfortable with or share the vision with, or I'm not working for that."
And about that terse note, Belichick doesn't think it was his best moment.
"In retrospect, I don't think that was the greatest choice," Belichick said. "I think it certainly did (get the message across). It did in a very, I don't know, it wasn't a real, it wasn't the classiest thing I've ever done. I'll say that.
"I mean, I was in a mood at that time."
Belichick was right not to trust the Jets. Johnson would become the owner, and the team has been one of the most dysfunctional league teams for over two decades.
