The Pittsburgh Steelers have had several battles with Bill Belichick over the years. It goes back to 1991, as he was a head coach for the Cleveland Browns for five years. More times than not, Belichick has had the black and gold's number. He had Tom Brady at his disposal for 20 years, which helped. Regardless, Mike Tomlin and the Steelers have had trouble getting past Belichick and the Patriots over the years.
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In a slew of recent reports, 2023 could possibly be the final season in Foxborough for New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.
Now, Belichick enters his 24th season with the New England Patriots in 2023. Shockingly, it could be his last season with the AFC East squad. Recent rumors suggest that if he doesn't lead the team to a successful season, the two sides could move on from each other. Ben Volin of the Boston Globe started this speculation in a recent article where he's heard that Belichick's circle has become worried about his future in Foxborough.
"Belichick’s friends have privately said they are worried that he is on the hot seat in 2023. On top of all that, Belichick has to dance carefully around his young quarterback. Evidently, [Mac] Jones is in pretty tight with the Krafts — perhaps tighter than Belichick is," Volin said.
This all stems from owner Robert Kraft and his relationship with quarterback Mac Jones. The 2021 first-rounder hasn't enjoyed too much success with the Patriots in his two NFL seasons so far. In fact, he was benched in favor of Bailey Zappe last season. That makes the Kraft-Jones relationship dynamic even more interesting. The Steelers will face the Patriots at Acrisure Stadium in Week 14 of the upcoming 2023 season.
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The Steelers and Patriots have had several close matchups over the years, including New England's close win in 2022.
The two sides faced off just last season, as the Jones-led Patriots defeated Mitch Trubisky and the Steelers. In the recent 2023 NFL Draft, the teams made a trade that helped the Steelers land Broderick Jones. Based off these recent reports, it could be the last meeting between Tomlin and Belichick on these respective teams. Volin even speculates that the Patriots could have their potential replacement waiting in the wings, in the case that the Patriots miss the playoffs again.
"Robert Kraft already made it clear in March that he wants the Patriots to make the postseason and win a playoff game for the first time in five years. He also paid Jerod Mayo handsomely to keep him off the coaching market and likely views him as the team’s coach-in-waiting.
It seems like this has quietly been brewing up for years now. If you remember, Brady shockingly left the Patriots in 2020 after 20 years with the team. He left town due to his unhappiness in the contracts that he was receiving, which Belichick and Kraft seemed to be having disagreements on. Brady ultimately signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he went on to win his seventh Super Bowl ring.
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The Steelers were actually able to upset Tom Brady and the Buccaneers in the 2022 regular season.
Since his departure, the Patriots have struggled. In three seasons, they have went a combined 25-25 (.500) with just one playoff appearance. That was a one-and-done appearance too, as they got destroyed by the Buffalo Bills in the 2021 Wild Card contest. Things won't get any easier in 2023 either, as the AFC East looks like the best division in football.
Will Steelers win 2023 matchup against Patriots?
On paper, the Patriots are the least-talented roster in the division and are projected to finish last in the East. The Miami Dolphins and New York Jets only got better this offseason with notable acquisitions in Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Rodgers, respectively. While the wild card spots help, it'll be a hard road for the Patriots to make the postseason in 2023. If they miss, it will be the third time in four seasons without Brady that they have failed to make it.
It's hard to imagine the Patriots without Belichick at the helm of things. For Steelers fans, it would be a welcomed sight. While Belichick struggled against the black and gold when he was with the Browns, he has dominated since taking over the Patriots. He's 13-4 in 17 meetings, while Tomlin is 3-9 against the Patriots in his career. If it is the last meeting, hopefully Tomlin will be able to come out on top one final time.
Do you believe these reports that this could be Belichick's final season in Foxborough? If it is, do you think he would retire or land a HC job with a different NFL team? What are your favorite memories from the Steelers-Patriots rivalry over the years? Share your thoughts in the comment section below, yinz!
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