Berj Najarian Leaving Team

[RSN Diaspora]

Not sure whether this was his decision, Mayo’s, or Kraft’s, but Berj Najarian is apparently out per his Insta:



At Belichick’s final presser with Kraft, he highlighted Berj and scouting administration director Nancy Meier as those who had been with him "since Day 1." Not sure what Meier’s future holds, but Berj’s departure is another sign of how long Belichick World’s reign was and how it’s over.

Plus, the team just got less Armenian, which sucks.

 

[tims4wins]

Not sure whether this was his decision, Mayo’s, or Kraft’s, but Berj Najarian is apparently our, per his Insta:

View attachment 76912

At Belichick’s final presser with Kraft, he highlighted Berj and scouting administration director Nancy Meier as those who had been with him "since Day 1." Not sure what Meier’s future holds, but Berj’s departure is another sign of how long Belichick World’s reign was and how it’s over.

Plus, the team just got less Armenian, which sucks.

I’m sure he will follow BB. That’s his guy.

 

[BigJimEd]

Too bad. Berj seems like someone a first time coach would benefit from having around.

 

[jsinger121]

I’m sure he will follow BB. That’s his guy.

Yup he came with him from the Jets. Tied at the hip. This isn't a surprise.

 

[Ferm Sheller]

This suggests that BB has been hired, right? Why would Najarian leave if BB hasn't already secured a job?

 

[DJnVa]

This suggests that BB has been hired, right? Why would Najarian leave if BB hasn't already secured a job?

Because he may not want to stay in the job unless it's BB. If BB gets a job, he goes with him. If he doesn't, he moves on.

 

[Ferm Sheller]

Because he may not want to stay in the job unless it's BB. If BB gets a job, he goes with him. If he doesn't, he moves on.

Makes sense. Tough to leave a job without having a job lined up, but maybe he’s comfortable knowing that he’d be in demand if BB isn’t hired.

 

[Kull]

Berj's office had a door into Bill's. He was literally "the gatekeeper", and he's spent 24+ years fending off people that Bill doesn't want to deal with. Not much different between that job and the Admin for any top level CEO. That also means there's a high level of "style fit" necessary to be successful, and I'm pretty sure that what Berj does best won't work as well with Mayo.

 

[Van Everyman]

For those of us who have no idea who this fucking guy is.

 

[Ale Xander]

For those of us who have no idea who this fucking guy is.

Paywalled. But it's Shank, so maybe good thing.

 

[jsinger121]

Not sure whether this was his decision, Mayo’s, or Kraft’s, but Berj Najarian is apparently our, per his Insta:

View attachment 76912

At Belichick’s final presser with Kraft, he highlighted Berj and scouting administration director Nancy Meier as those who had been with him "since Day 1." Not sure what Meier’s future holds, but Berj’s departure is another sign of how long Belichick World’s reign was and how it’s over.

Plus, the team just got less Armenian, which sucks.

Meier has been with the Patriots since 1975. She is likely going nowhere.

 

[dirtynine]

Paywalled. But it's Shank, so maybe good thing.

wayback machine

 

[Deathofthebambino]

I’m sure he will follow BB. That’s his guy.

This. And even if he doesn't, Berj is in a position now where he can take time off. He has two boys, both at St. Sebastian's (I'll double check with my son, but I think one is a senior and one is a junior now), and his wife tragically passed away after a long battle with cancer in June, 2022 (her and her sister were friends of mine when we were kids and we still run into each other at various Armenian events, etc. and I've known Berj forever, and my son is friends with his boys).

When BB came to the Pats, his one contractual requirement that was a deal breaker was that Kraft had to let him bring Berj with him. There are a ton of articles out there about their relationship, just a few:

https://www.thrivetimeshow.com/business-podcasts/berj-najarian-the-80-20-rule-the-new-england-patriots-secret-weapon-that-creates-the-space-for-bill-belichick-to-work-and-win/

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/patriots/2019/01/31/who-mysterious-berj-najarian-bill-belichick-right-hand-man/PdvKUC9ZQcxttHhmYVFk5M/story.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/04/sports/football/berj-najarian-is-a-key-figure-in-the-patriots-inner-circle.html

https://armenianweekly.com/2021/01/13/berj-najarian-fosters-the-patriot-way-with-custom-cleats-for-armenia/

https://www.audacy.com/weei/sports/patriots/an-insiders-view-of-bill-belichicks-right-hand-man


For those of you that took note of "Pin-Gate" where supposedly BB pissed off Kraft for not wearing a pin in the right spot on his shirt, BB famously wore an Armenian pin on a trip to the WH to garner attention for the Armenian Genocide:

https://www.nbcsportsboston.com/nfl/new-england-patriots/story-behind-belichick-wearing-armenian-pin-at-white-house/375455/