Bill Belichick, the former head coach of the Patriots, has been criticized for taking excessive credit for the franchise’s financial growth, as noted in an email shared by his girlfriend. He claims leadership in the organization’s rise from a $500 million franchise to an $8 billion one; however, such increases in NFL franchise values are largely attributed to league-wide business strategies and not individual coaches or players. Robert Kraft’s significant business decisions, such as his role in ending the 2011 lockout and securing lucrative TV deals, have been more pivotal to the financial success of the Patriots than Belichick’s coaching achievements alone.