Robert Kraft Identifies His ‘Best Decision’ As Patriots Owner

Robert Kraft has overseen unprecedented success at the start of the 21st century. The New England Patriots owner remembered the one move that made it all possible.

Last month, Kraft spoke to Patriots icons Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski at the Fanatics Fest in New York City for a live recording of their “Dudes on Dudes” podcast. During the interview, released in full on Thursday, Edelman asked Kraft to pick the “best decision” he’s ever made for the Patriots.

Kraft recalled trading a first-round pick to the New York Jets for the contractual rights to head coach Bill Belichick, who resigned a day after the Jets hired him in January 2000.

“The one that got questioned the most was in ’99,” Kraft said. “I gave up a No. 1 draft pick for a coach who had only won a little over 40 percent of his games, to get him out … I think getting Bill Belichick to come to the Patriots in 1999 was a big risk, and I got hammered in the Boston media. But he was with us for 24 years, and we did OK.”

Kraft rounded down, as Belichick won 45 percent of his games (36-44) as the Cleveland Browns head coach from 1991 to 1995. Yet forfeiting a first-rounder for a coach with a losing record was still a huge gamble.

Obviously, the move worked out well. Belichick took the Patriots to the playoffs 18 times in 24 seasons, winning nine AFC titles and six Super Bowls alongside Tom Brady.

Belichick has the most postseason victories (31) of any head coach in NFL history, and all but one were with New England. The 73-year-old will forgo his pursuit of Don Shula’s all-time wins record (at least for now) to lead the University of North Carolina’s college football program.

Although their historic partnership didn’t end on the smoothest terms, Kraft still appreciates everything Belichick did for the Patriots organization.