New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft reportedly told Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank to "not trust" Bill Belichick when the Falcons were interviewing the legendary coach for their vacancy this offseason.

Don Van Natta Jr., Seth Wickersham and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported Blank and Kraft spoke on the phone twice when the Falcons were vetting Belichick. Kraft reportedly used "some candor" in discussing Belichick. One source close to the ex-Patriots coach believes the Patriots owner was "a big part" of why the Falcons ultimately chose to hire Raheem Morris.

One source said the Krafts felt "betrayed" by Belichick late in his tenure with the franchise.

"I don't think they'd try to hurt Belichick," the source said. "But I don't think they'd try to help him either. They weren't going to try to sink him. He was finished as an effective head coach. Just look at his last four years in New England. A disaster ... If you're Arthur Blank, why do you want the headaches?"

A Patriots spokesperson denied the characterization and said Kraft pushed Blank to hire Belichick.

"Robert steadfastly denies saying anything negative to Arthur Blank about Bill Belichick after Robert and Bill mutually agreed to part ways," Patriots spokesman Stacey James said. "In fact, Robert advocated for Bill to get the job."

The relationship between Kraft and Belichick deteriorated in recent years, thanks in large part to a falling out with longtime quarterback Tom Brady. Belichick and Brady engaged in a power struggle late in the quarterback's tenure with the franchise, ultimately leading Brady to leave for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"Tommy is the greatest in the 100-year history of the game, and I think he represented a threat to Bill's full power. He didn't want Tommy there," Kraft said in the Apple TV+ documentary The Dynasty.

The Patriots failed to make the playoffs in three of Belichick's four seasons after Brady's departure. They reached a nadir in 2023, going 4-13 and finishing in last place in the AFC East. That led to Belichick's departure from New England after 24 seasons in what amounted to a firing.

Belichick is undoubtedly the most accomplished coach in NFL history, but his rigid ways can push players the wrong way—particularly when it's not followed by winning. At age 72, there's a natural concern whether the game had passed him by. His skills as a talent evaluator certainly waned late in his New England tenure, as the Patriots roster remains riddled with his draft mistakes.

Even if Belichick was willing to cede personnel control in Atlanta, it's clear he damaged enough relationships on his way out in New England to have owners around the league wary about giving him another job.