Kraft said he was “hammered” in the local media for the move and termed it a “big risk” because of Belichick’s previous history as a head coach in Cleveland. In a statement to ESPN, Belichick responded by saying that he felt he made a similar leap when he resigned from the Jets in order to come to New England.

"As I told Robert multiple times through the years, I took a big risk by taking the New England Patriots head-coaching job," Belichick said.