The New England Patriots and Bill Belichick parted ways on Thursday, and afterward, quarterback Mac Jones penned an emotional message to his now former head coach on Instagram.
“I grew up dreaming of playing in the NFL and that dream grew even stronger after I watched Coach Belichick and the Patriots win the Super Bowl in my hometown,” Jones wrote. “My dream to play in the NFL came true when I was drafted to the Patriots organization and I am grateful to have played for and learned from such a legendary coach. Coach Belichick has impacted me and so many other players in immeasurable ways.”
Unfortunately, Jones’ tenure under Belichick did not go according to plan.
Jones, who played his collegiate football at the University of Alabama, was selected by the Patriots with the 15th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft.
He actually enjoyed a solid rookie campaign, throwing for 3,801 yards, 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions while completing 67.6 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 92.5. He even made the Pro Bowl for his efforts.
However, the following season, Jones regressed, finishing with 2,997 yards, 14 touchdowns and 11 picks while completing 65.2 percent of his throws and posting a passer rating of 84.8 in 14 starts.
This year, Jones’ descent continued, as he made 11 starts before being benched in favor of Bailey Zappe. During that time, the 25-year-old totaled 2,120 yards, 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, completing 64.9 percent of his passes and registering a passer rating of 77.
The general expectation is that the Patriots will end up trading Jones this coming offseason, so his tenure in New England could very well be coming to an end.
But even if Mac Jones ends up staying in Foxborough for 2024, it won’t be under Belichick.
Bill Belichick spent 24 years as Pats head coach, leading the franchise to six Super Bowl championships, nine Super Bowl appearances and 17 AFC East division titles.
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