The future of head coach Bill Belichick is arguably the hottest topic of discussion surrounding the New England Patriots at the moment. And while it remains to be seen what will happen after the season, a decision has been made — at least according to NBC Sports’ Tom E. Curran.

“When they came out of Germany, conversations I had that week made it very clear that a decision was made,” Curran said this week. “They were going to play out the string, and at the end of the year there would be a parting of the ways, for a variety of reasons. …

“The Germany game, the Commanders game, the Saints game: all huge marquee games, and then there was the Chargers game after that. Just because they won last week in Pittsburgh in prime time, I don’t think it quells anything.”

The Patriots’ 10-6 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Germany was the apparent breaking point for the team’s ownership to make a change at the end of the season — moving on from Belichick after 24 seasons at the helm and six Super Bowl wins. What such a move would look like remains TBD, according to Curran, but a straight firing seems to be off the table, he said during an appearance on WEEI on Tuesday.

Neither Belichick nor team owner Robert Kraft have made any public statements about their future together in light of New England’s 3-10 start into the season.