Bill Belichick takes a quick swipe at the Patriots after their recent trade

Joshua Uche didn't see the field much in the New England Patriots' first seven games. According to legendary head coach Bill Belichick, that had more to do with the situation in New England than Uche's ability.

The Patriots traded Uche to the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday for a 2026 sixth-round pick, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo first reported.

Belichick viewed it as a win for Kansas City and took a slight dig at New England when asked about the deal.

“They (chiefs) haven’t given up anything, in my opinion,” Belichick told “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday afternoon. “Look, Josh Uche is a really good rusher. He didn't have a chance to make an impact for the Patriots this year because they were behind by a lot. The situation wasn’t good.”

The Patriots have allowed their opponents to run the ball down their throats and build significant leads. Uche, a situational pass rusher, played 35% or more of defensive snaps just twice in seven contests.

Belichick selected Uche in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft and believes the rusher can recapture what the former Patriots coach saw in him when he left Michigan.

“He had a big year two years ago,” Belichick said, referencing Uche’s 11.5-sack campaign. “Now he (Matthew) had Judon on the other side, so it was two good pass rushers. But he will have plenty of opportunities to make an impact in Kansas City.

“I think he will really help them (Chiefs). He has surprising strength for his size. He has excellent speed and a good start. And he has some flexibility in coverage. So I think it's a good addition for a team that needs another pass rusher, which everyone does. Josh can do it. He will definitely help them.”

For Uche, who was embroiled in trade rumors during the 2023 campaign when Belichick was at the helm, it seemed like the signs were set. The 26-year-old signed a one-year contract last offseason and is scheduled to hit free agency in March. Uche was also a healthy scratch in New England's Week 8 win over the New York Jets.