EAST GRANBY, Conn. - It's a bittersweet day for Patriots fans all over New England knowing Bill Belichick will no longer be the head coach of the team.

"It felt like it was coming," said Fearless Cards Toys and Collectibles general manager Matt Zall. "It's upsetting for the local sports fans. So what we do is a lot of sports, so I talk to Patriots fan all day everyday and so it feels like it's the end of what we know of the Patriots. Having Brady gone a couple years ago and then now Belichick, it was always the two of them."

"So, I'm not a Patriots fan, but Belichick is the guy," said store owner Brandon Rocco. "He's one of the GOATs, with Tom Brady. He's been with the Patriots organization for 24 years as a coach, won a lot of Super Bowls with Brady, so definitely an end of an era type thing."

In his 24 years as Patriots head coach, Belichick lead his team to 17 division titles and six super bowl championships. In his last season with the team, the Patriots finished with a disappointing 4-13 record and missed the playoffs for the second year in a row.

It's been difficult for many fans to watch recently, and it could be a while before better days return.

"I don't think Mac Jones is the answer," Rocco said. "I don't think Zappe is the answer. I think they have to get better in a lot of different areas including quarterback, which is obviously the focal point of the team."

"It's gonna be tough," Zall said. "Miami is on the up and up now. Aaron Rodgers is coming back next year, supposedly, for the Jets, and then the Bills have supposedly been a wagon for the last couple of years, so it will be tough for them in the division.

"But [Patriots owner Robert] Kraft has been doing this for a while. He's still the man in charge, so it's hard to say. It doesn't look great, but we'll see."