Belichick was hired by the Patriots a day after accepting a head coaching job with the New York Jets. As Belichick told Van Natta, the Jets' ownership situation was uncertain after previous owner Leon Hess died in 1999. The team was managed by his estate between 1999 and 2000 before Woody Johnson purchased it.

Bill Belichick responded to Robert Kraft's "big risk" comments, and said he was "warned" about taking the coaching role with the Patriots.