Bill Belichick Special: 24 Seasons, Six Super Bowl Trophies and Tom Brady Era

It’s the end of an era! Bill Belichick has crossed the threshold. What many had been speculating about for months is finally happening. On Sunday, the 71-year-old coach ended one of his worst seasons as head coach. He lost to a team who they had defeated for 15 straight games. They bid adieu to this season with a 4-13 record. But that’s not all that they bid farewell to.

The man who led the team for over two decades will also be no more with the team. So, how has the run been for Bill Belichick as he closes this chapter of not just his career, but his life as well?

Bill Belichick no more a Patriot!

Just a couple of days ago, Belichick had put up an offer. He said that the team could remove him as GM of the team, but he wanted to stay on as Head Coach. But Ian Rapoport took to X to share that is not going to happen. His tweet read, “His celebrated 24-year tenure, one that included 6 Super Bowl wins, is over.” How was his run as the Patriots’ HC?

He joined the Patriots in 2000. But in his first year as HC, the team ended the season with a 5-11 record. Then in his second year, he played a masterstroke, which kept paying dividends for the coming years. In 2001, he went against conventional wisdom and decided to start Tom Brady. Why was that such a bold move? Brady had been drafted as the 199th overall pick just the year before. They already had veteran QB Drew Bledsoe on the roster. But as we all know, his bet paid off big time.

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The two went on to help the Pats win all 6 of their Super Bowl titles. Pushing them from 0 to tying with the Steelers for the most number of Super Bowl wins. He has won 333 games and just fell short of 14 wins to surpass Don Shula as the coach with the most number of wins. Yet this hasn’t stopped from being almost universally acknowledged as “The Greatest Football Coach of All Time”. But how does his former QB remember him?

What did Belichick mean to Tom Brady?

Earlier this year, well after Brady had retired from football, he was asked about Belichick. When his co-host, Jim Gray, asked him what Belichick did to make him a great player, Brady got emotional. He could be seen pausing a moment, and his eyes actually were filled with tears. The QB seemed to struggle to find the right words to explain what he did for him.

“I think it’s more what did he not do, to bring out the best in me.” he finally said. He said despite being drafted in the sixth round, Belichick saw something in him and believed in him. Brady said he couldn’t have imagined having a better mentor than Belichick. “And not only that, but his leadership, which is one of his great, great qualities. He showed up with a purpose.”

But it’s clear that as soon as Brady left, Belichick was not able to work up the same magic with any of his succeeding QBs. Now the next set of questions looming in everyone’s minds is: Will he leave coaching forever? Or will he join a new team?

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