Belichick: Resigning from Jets is 'one of the great moments of my career'

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has won everything possible as an NFL head coach and coordinator, but the list of his greatest moments isn't limited to just wins and rings.

Belichick was set to become head coach of the New York Jets before joining the Patriots in 2000, but he surprisingly resigned from the role. The future Hall of Famer described that decision as one of the top moments of his football journey 20 years later.

"One of the - not only most defining - but one of the great moments of my career," Belichick said Tuesday of his Jets resignation on WEEI. "That combined with (Patriots owner) Robert (Kraft) giving me the opportunity to come here, I couldn't have asked for anything more. That wasn't a good situation for me, and I didn't want to be part of it, so I wasn't."

Belichick left the Jets before coaching a game with the club. He worked as New York's defensive coordinator under Bill Parcells from 1997 to 1999 and was set to replace the head coach after the 1999 campaign. However, Belichick turned his introductory press conference into a goodbye presser.

At the time, Belichick said he made his decision "due to the various uncertainties surrounding my position as it relates to the team's new ownership."

The Patriots then sent a first-round pick to New York for the right to hire Belichick.

In 20-plus seasons in New England, Belichick's team has made nine Super Bowl appearances, winning the title six times. The three-time Coach of the Year ranks third all time with 307 career wins (including playoffs).

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