New England Patriots Manager Tipped to Win Coach of the Year

Earlier, the New England Patriots lost their best-ever quarterback and tight end to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. So, General Manager Bill Belichick may have to make do with a second-year player with limited experience in the offense.

In addition to that, he also retains the same receiving corps as last season. On the defensive front, there have been significant free-agent losses. In spite of all these challenges, many tip Belichick to work around that and become the NFL’s coach of the year.

Belichick is entering his 21st NFL campaign as the New England Patriots head coach. However, this is the first time he is without Tom Brady, arguably the greatest QB of all time. According to the rumour mill, second-year QB Jarrett Stidham may have a shoe in to take over from where Brady left off.

How will the New England Patriots handle the new season without Brady?

Under Belichick’s watchful eye, the Patriots went 11-5 with Matt Cassel replacing an injured Brady in 2008. They also went 3-1 with Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett replacing Brady during the latter’s suspension in 2016.

“If [Belichick] takes that roster and wins that division, and no other team goes 16-0, how do you give it to somebody else?” Caesars Sportsbook director of trading Jeff Davis told ESPN. “The only way he doesn’t get it is if one of the teams that was terrible last year makes the playoffs.”

Interestingly, Gus Malzahn, Stidham’s college coach is confident that his former quarterback can successfully step into Brady’s shoes.

“It definitely helped him to learn under the best and see what that looks like, but he’s the kind of young man, too, this is what he’s been waiting on,” Malzahn told ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “I’ll tell you, the moment won’t be too big for him. He’ll be up to the challenge, that’s what I expect.”