Most playoff appearances as a head coach: 19 (tied)
Most divisional championships as a head coach: 17
William Stephen Belichick (/ˈbɛlɪtʃɪk,-tʃɛk/ⓘBEL-itch-ik, -ek; born April 16, 1952) is an Americanfootball coach who is thehead coach of theUniversity of North Carolina Tar Heels. Regarded as one of the greatest head coaches of all time,[2][3][4] he holds numerous coaching records, including the record of mostSuper Bowl wins (six) as a head coach, all with theNew England Patriots, along with two more during his time as thedefensive coordinator of theNew York Giants, for a record eight total Super Bowl victories as coach and coordinator.[5] A renowned American football historian, Belichick is often referred to as a "student of the game" with a deep knowledge of the intricacies of each player position.[6][7][8][9] During his tenure with the Patriots, Belichick was a central figure as the head coach andde facto general manager during theteam's dynasty from 2001 to 2019.[10]
Belichick is a descendant ofBill Parcells'coaching tree. He began his coaching career in 1975 as an assistant for theBaltimore Colts and became thedefensive coordinator forNew York Giants head coach Parcells by 1985. Parcells and Belichick won two Super Bowls together before Belichick left to become the head coach of theCleveland Browns in 1991. He remained in Cleveland for five seasons but was fired following the team's1995 season. Belichick rejoined Parcells, first in New England, where the team lostSuper Bowl XXXI, and later with theNew York Jets. After being named head coach of the Jets, Belichick resigned after only one day on the job to accept the head coaching job for the Patriots on January 27, 2000. In 24 seasons under Belichick, the Patriots won 17AFC East division titles, made 13 appearances in theAFC Championship Game, and appeared in nine Super Bowls, with a record six wins. Overall, Belichick has won eight Super Bowl titles (the most of any individual in NFL history) and finished as runner-up four times from his combined time as an assistant and head coach.
Belichick was raised inAnnapolis, Maryland,[19] where his father was an assistant football coach at theUnited States Naval Academy. Belichick has said his father is one of his most important football mentors, and Belichick often studied football with him.[20] He reportedly learned to break down game films at a young age by watching his father and the Navy staff do their jobs.[21] Belichick graduated fromAnnapolis High School in 1970, where he was a classmate ofSally Brice-O'Hara, who would later become theVice Commandant of the Coast Guard.[22][23] While there, Belichick playedfootball andlacrosse, with the latter being his favorite sport.[24] Belichick enrolled atPhillips Academy inAndover, Massachusetts, for apostgraduate year, with the intention of improving his grades and test scores to be admitted into a quality college.[25] The school honored Belichick 40 years later by inducting him into its Athletics Hall of Honor in 2011.[26]
Belichick attendedWesleyan University inMiddletown, Connecticut, where he played center and tight end. In addition to being a member of the football team, Belichick playedlacrosse andsquash, serving as the captain of the lacrosse team during his senior season. A member ofChi Psi fraternity,[27] Belichick earned abachelor's degree ineconomics in 1975.[28] Eventually, he was part of the inaugural induction class into the university's Athletics Hall of Fame in spring 2008.[29]
Coaching career
Early coaching positions
After graduating, Belichick took a $25-per-week job as an assistant toBaltimore Colts head coachTed Marchibroda in1975.[30] In1976, Belichick joined theDetroit Lions as their assistant special teams coach before addingtight ends andwide receivers to his coaching duties in1977.[31] Belichick was dismissed along with head coachTommy Hudspeth and the rest of the coaching staff on January 9, 1978.[32] He spent the1978 season with theDenver Broncos as their assistant special teams coach and defensive assistant while also serving as director of films.[33][34]
From1991 until1995, Belichick was the head coach of theCleveland Browns. During his tenure in Cleveland, Belichick compiled a 36–44 record, leading the team to the playoffs in1994, his only winning year with the team.[39] Coincidentally, Belichick's lone playoff victory during his Browns tenure was achieved against theNew England Patriots, who were coached by former Giants head coach Bill Parcells, in theWild Card Round during that postseason.[40] In Belichick's final season in Cleveland, the Browns finished 5–11 despite starting 3–1.[41] One of his most controversial moves was cutting quarterbackBernie Kosar midway through the1993 season. Kosar was signed by theDallas Cowboys two days later and won a Super Bowl with the Cowboys inSuper Bowl XXVIII as a backup. In November 1995, in the middle of the ongoing football season, Browns ownerArt Modell had announced he would move his franchise toBaltimore after the season.[42] After first being given assurances that he would coach the new team that would later become theBaltimore Ravens, Belichick was instead fired on February 14, 1996, a week after the shift was officially announced.[43]
In the 2013 episode ofA Football Life on theCleveland Browns relocation controversy, many sports journalists who had covered the Browns at the time said that in retrospect, Belichick had laid the groundwork and set up the infrastructure for the Ravens' success in the ensuing decades, including their win inSuper Bowl XXXV (with Cleveland holdoversMatt Stover andRob Burnett still with the team at that point), by giving recently retired tight endOzzie Newsome his first front-office job, and had also planned on draftingRay Lewis in the1996 NFL draft if Belichick and the team had stayed in Cleveland. (Indeed, the newly christened Ravens did draft Lewis, who went on to a 17-yearHall of Fame career with the team.) Those who had covered the Browns went on to state that if the original Browns had stayed in Cleveland, Belichick would have seen his work through. For his part, Belichick stated that he was able to learn from some mistakes he had made with the Browns while largely sticking to his blueprint from Cleveland when resurrecting the Patriots, such as factoring in off-the-field issues that can affect performance. Among those interviewed, the consensus was that Belichick's failure in Cleveland had more to do with Modell's financial struggles (even paying a youngScott Pioli only $14,000/year—equivalent to $32,447 in 2024—as a scout) that eventually led the NFL to force the sale of the Ravens toSteve Bisciotti than Belichick's own doing.[44]
New England Patriots (1996)
After his dismissal by the Cleveland Browns, Belichick served under Parcells again as assistant head coach and defensive backs coach with theNew England Patriots for the 1996 season. The Patriots finished with an 11–5 record and won theAFC Championship over theJacksonville Jaguars, but they lost to theGreen Bay Packers inSuper Bowl XXXI amid rumors of Parcells's impending defection.[45][46]
New York Jets (1997–1999)
Belichick had two stints as the head coach of the New York Jets without ever coaching a game.
In February 1997, Belichick, who had been an assistant coach under Bill Parcells with the New York Giants and New England Patriots, was named the Jets' interim head coach while the Jets and Patriots continued to negotiate compensation to release Parcells from his contract with the Patriots and allow Parcells to coach the Jets.[47] Six days later, the Patriots and Jets reached an agreement that allowed Parcells to coach the Jets, and Belichick became the team's assistant head coach and defensive coordinator.[48]
When Parcells stepped down as head coach after the 1999 season, he had already arranged with team management to have Belichick succeed him. However, Belichick was the Jets' head coach for only one day. On January 4, 2000, when Belichick was introduced as head coach to the media—the day after his hiring was publicized—he turned it into a surprise resignation announcement. Before taking the podium, Belichick scrawled a resignation note on a napkin that read, in its entirety,"I resign as HC of the NYJ." He then delivered a half-hour speech explaining his resignation to the assembled press corps.[49]
Soon after this bizarre turn of events, Belichick was introduced as the Patriots' 12th full-time head coach, succeeding the recently firedPete Carroll.[50] The Patriots had inquired to the Jets about permission to interview him for their vacant spot at head coach just before Parcells stepping down.[51] Parcells and the Jets claimed that Belichick was still under contract to the Jets, and demanded compensation from the Patriots. NFL CommissionerPaul Tagliabue agreed, and the Patriots gave the Jets a first-round draft pick in2000 in exchange for the right to hire Belichick.[52]
Return to New England (2000–2023)
Soon after hiring Belichick, ownerRobert Kraft gave him near-complete control over the team's football operations, making him thede facto general manager as well. Until 2009, Belichick split many of the duties normally held by a general manager at other clubs with player personnel directorScott Pioli. However, Belichick had the final say on football matters.[53] Pioli left for theKansas City Chiefs after the 2008 season.[54]
The Patriots went 5–11 in the2000 regular season and missed theplayoffs.[55]
First three Super Bowl wins: 2001–2004
Belichick (right) during the Patriots' visit to theWhite House in 2004
The following season (2002)—the first inGillette Stadium—the Patriots went 9–7 and missed theplayoffs.[60] New England finished with the same record as theNew York Jets and theMiami Dolphins. Still, the Jets won theAFC East title as a result of the third tiebreaker (record among common opponents).[61]
During the Patriots'2008 season-opener against theKansas City Chiefs, quarterbackTom Brady sustained a season-ending injury in the first quarter.[85] Backup quarterbackMatt Cassel was named the starter for the remainder of the season. However, with a win in Week 2, the Patriots broke their own record for regular-season wins in a row with 21 (2006–08). After losing over 12 players to the injured reserve list, includingRodney Harrison,Adalius Thomas, andLaurence Maroney, the Patriots still managed their league-leading eighth consecutive season with a winning record, going 11–5.[86] However, the Patriots, who finished second in theAFC East, missed theplayoffs for the first time since 2002, losing on tiebreakers to theMiami Dolphins (who won the division on the fourth tiebreaker, better conference record) and theBaltimore Ravens (who beat out the Patriots for the last playoff spot due to a better conference record).[87] The1985 Denver Broncos are the only other 11-win team to miss the playoffs in a 16-game season.[88]
In2009, with a fully healthy Tom Brady back as the starting quarterback, Belichick was able to guide the Patriots to yet another AFC East division title with a 10–6 record.[89] However, the Patriots lost to theBaltimore Ravens in theWild Card Round.[90]
In an incident dubbed "Spygate",[91] on September 9, 2007, NFL security caught a Patriots video assistant taping theNew York Jets' defensive signals from the sidelines, which is not an approved location. The NFL rules state: "No video recording devices of any kind are permitted to be in use in the coaches' booth, on the field, or in the locker room during the game." Jets coachEric Mangini, a former Patriots assistant, tipped off league officials that the Patriots might have been filming their signals. After the game, the Jets formally complained to the league.
On September 13, the NFL fined Belichick $500,000—the largest fine ever imposed on a coach in the league's 87-year history,[92] and fined the Patriots $250,000. Additionally, the Patriots forfeited their first-round draft pick in the2008 NFL draft. NFL CommissionerRoger Goodell, a former employee of the Jets, said that he fined the Patriots as a team because Belichick exercises so much control over the Patriots' on-field operations that "his actions and decisions are properly attributed to the club." Goodell considered suspending Belichick but decided that taking away draft picks would be more severe in the long run.[93] Gary Myers, a columnist for New York'sDaily News, stated Belichick should have been suspended by Goodell for the Patriots' next game against the Jets.[94]
Belichick later issued the following statement:
I accept full responsibility for the actions that led to tonight's ruling. Once again, I apologize to the Kraft family and every person directly or indirectly associated with the New England Patriots for the embarrassment, distraction, and penalty my mistake caused. I also apologize to Patriots fans and would like to thank them for their support during the past few days and throughout my career. [...] As the Commissioner acknowledged, our use of sideline video had no impact on the outcome of last week's game. We have never used sideline video to obtain a competitive advantage while the game was in progress. [...] Part of my job as head coach is to ensure that our football operations are conducted in compliance of the league rules and all accepted interpretations of them. My interpretation of a rule in the Constitution and Bylaws was incorrect. [...] With tonight's resolution, I will not be offering any further comments on this matter. We are moving on with our preparations for Sunday's game.
Following the incident and its fallout, Belichick led the Patriots to a perfect 16–0 regular season record, and was awarded the 2007NFL Coach of the Year Award, as voted on by theAssociated Press.[95]
Making five Super Bowls and winning three, Gronkowski, and "We're on to Cincinnati": 2010–2019
In the2010 season, Belichick and the Patriots finished with a 14–2 record for the top seed in the AFC.[96] However, their postseason ended quickly with a 28–21 loss to theNew York Jets in thedivisional round.[97]
On September 26, 2012, following a 31–30 loss to theBaltimore Ravens, Belichick was fined $50,000 for grabbing a replacement official's arm while asking for more specific clarity on a ruling after Baltimore had narrowly converted a last-second field goal attempt to secure the win.[102] The Patriots finished the2012 regular season with a 12–4 record. In thedivisional round of the playoffs, they defeated theHouston Texans by a score of 41–28 and made it to theAFC Championship Game, where they lost to the eventualSuper Bowl XLVII championBaltimore Ravens by a score of 28–13, ending their season.[103][104]
In the2014 season, Belichick's Patriots started 2–2. At a mid-week press conference following a 41–14 loss to theKansas City Chiefs, Belichick famously uttered, "We're on to Cincinnati" (referring to the Patriots' next opponent), several times in response to follow-up questions and criticisms of his team, Brady in particular.[108] Ultimately, they recorded a 12–4 record for the third straight season.[109] In theDivisional Round, they defeated theBaltimore Ravens by a score of 35–31.[110] During theAFC Championship Game, they defeated theIndianapolis Colts by a score of 45–7.[111] They reachedSuper Bowl XLIX, where they defeated theSeattle Seahawks by a score of 28–24.[112] With his fourth championship as head coach, Belichick tiedChuck Noll for most Super Bowl wins by a head coach.[113]
In the2016 season, the Patriots recorded a 14–2 record, which earned them the #1 seed for the AFC playoffs.[119] In theDivisional Round, they defeated theHouston Texans by a score of 34–16.[120] During theAFC Championship Game, they defeated thePittsburgh Steelers by a score of 36–17.[121] They reachedSuper Bowl LI, where they defeated theAtlanta Falcons in a comeback victory by a score of 34–28 in overtime.[122] The Patriots were down 28–3 at one point in the third quarter.[123] With the victory, Belichick won his record fifth Super Bowl title as a head coach.[124]
In the2017 season, the Patriots went 13–3, setting an NFL record eighth consecutive 12-or-more-win seasons, capturing their ninth consecutive AFC East title and their 15th of the last 17 seasons. They defeated theTennessee Titans in theDivisional Round by a score of 35–14 and theJacksonville Jaguars in theAFC Championship Game by a score of 24–20, claiming their second consecutive AFC title, while also extending their record of consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances with seven.[125][126]Super Bowl LII was Belichick's eighth title game as head coach and his eleventh overall in any capacity, which was also the Patriots' tenth appearance, all extending NFL records.The Ringer wrote that Belichick's "team is different from many of New England's famous teams from the previous decade: The first iteration of the Patriots dynasty relied on defense. This year, they are 29th in yards allowed (though fifth in points allowed) and instead have perfected the art of situational football." The latter Patriots teams were noted for mountinglate comebacks in playoff games.[127][128] However, the Patriots fell to thePhiladelphia Eagles inSuper Bowl LII, 41–33, as Eagles quarterbackNick Foles repeated his dominantNFC Championship Game performance and led Philadelphia to victory in a high-scoring game. The Patriots were down early, as they had been in most of their Super Bowl wins. However, they could not make a comeback this time, although they came very close. Eagles defensive endBrandon Graham strip-sacked Tom Brady to get the ball back with about two minutes to go in the fourth quarter. The Patriots did get the ball again before the end of the game, but they ran out of time to score.[129]
Belichick in 2019
In the2018 season, the Patriots went 11–5, failing to win 12 or more games for the first time since 2009. Despite this, they still captured their 10th consecutive AFC East title and their 16th of the last 18 years. They defeated theLos Angeles Chargers in theDivisional Round by a score of 41–28 and theKansas City Chiefs during theAFC Championship Game 37–31 in a challenging overtime game in Kansas City to advance to their third straight Super Bowl.[130][131] InSuper Bowl LIII, the Patriots defeated theLos Angeles Rams 13–3 to give Belichick his sixth Super Bowl championship as a head coach and his eighth overall to have the most Super Bowl rings in NFL history. His six championships matched bothGeorge Halas andCurly Lambeau for most championships as a head coach. The Patriots' defense held the high-scoring Rams offense to only 260 total yards.[132][133]
On May 13, 2019, Belichick announced that he would assume another role as the Patriots' defensive play-caller starting the 2019 season to replaceBrian Flores, who had left to become head coach of theMiami Dolphins. Flores' position as defensive coordinator would be left unfilled throughout the season.[134] On October 27, 2019, with the Patriots' win over theCleveland Browns, Belichick obtained his300th win, regular and postseason combined, as a head coach.[135] The Patriots finished the2019 regular season with a 12–4 record, winning their 11th consecutive AFC East title.[136] However, the Patriots were defeated in theWild Card Round of the playoffs by theTennessee Titans, led by former Patriots linebackerMike Vrabel, by a score of 20–13.[137]
Post-Brady era and final years in New England: 2020–2023
Following the departure of Tom Brady to theTampa Bay Buccaneers, Belichick and the Patriots were faced with an uncertain quarterback situation for the first time in nearly two decades.[138] During the offseason, the Patriots signed formerCarolina Panthers starterCam Newton for the2020 NFL season.[139] The off-season routines and schedules, as well as the normal processes of regular season were severely disrupted by the worldwideCOVID-19 pandemic. Despite the unanticipated difficulties and challenges of the pandemic, the Patriots were in the hunt for a playoff spot until late in the season, ultimately finishing 7–9. The2020 season was Belichick's first losing season since his first year in New England.[140]
In the2021 NFL draft, the Patriots selected quarterbackMac Jones with the 15th overall pick.[141] After Jones and Newton competed for the starting job during the preseason, Belichick made the decision to release Newton and name Jones the starter for theupcoming season.[142][143] During Week 4, Brady'sTampa Bay Buccaneersvisited the Patriots in his first trip to Gillette Stadium since signing with the Buccaneers. A missed 56-yard field goal by Patriots kickerNick Folk allowed Tampa Bay to narrowly escape with a 19–17 victory.[144] Immediately after the game, Brady and Belichick shared a quick embrace on the field before Brady greeted his former teammates and other members of the Patriots organization.[145] Though fans criticized Belichick for his lack of warmth displayed towards his former quarterback, the two privately spoke at length in the Buccaneers locker room following the match.[146] Belichick helped lead the Patriots to a 10–7 record in 2021. The team fell to theBuffalo Bills in theWild Card Round by a score of 47–17.[147]
Before the2022 season began, Belichick would not name an offensive coordinator to replace the outgoingJosh McDaniels, who had left to coach theLas Vegas Raiders. This left both the offensive and defensive coordinator positions vacant throughout the season.[148] Despite starting quarterback Mac Jones being injured in Week 3 and subsequently missing three more weeks, the Patriots remained in the hunt for a playoff spot until the last week, finishing with a record of 8–9.[149][150] Jones would go through a noticeable regression throughout the year, and many pundits criticized the return ofJoe Judge andMatt Patricia to the Patriots staff and cited their lack of coaching acumen as the reason for Jones' decline.[151][152]
During Week 4 of the2023 season, the Patriots lost to theDallas Cowboys by a score of 38–3.[153] In doing so, Belichick suffered the worst loss of his coaching career (35 points).[154] The following week, the Patriots lost to the Saints by a score of 34–0, giving Belichick his worst home loss of his career.[155] Two weeks later, New England upset theBuffalo Bills 29–25 to earn Belichick his 300th career regular season win as an NFL head coach.[156] After a Week 10 10–6 loss to theIndianapolis Colts inGermany and subsequent bye week, Belichick namedBailey Zappe the team's starting quarterback.[157] In Belichick's final game with New England, the Patriots lost to theNew York Jets 17–3, snapping the team's 15-game winning streak over the Jets. The Patriots finished the season with a 4–13 record, the team's worst in Belichick's 24 seasons as head coach.[158]
On January 11, 2024, Belichick and the Patriots mutually agreed to part ways.[159] On January 15, Belichick was interviewed by theAtlanta Falcons for their head coaching position, but ultimately did not get the job as the Falcons hiredRaheem Morris instead.[160][161]
Overall record in New England
Under Belichick, the Patriots had a regular-season record of 266–121–0 over 24 seasons.[162] Belichick is the most successful coach in Patriots history; his 266 wins with the franchise are more than quadruple those of runner-upMike Holovak.[163] Belichick also compiled a 30–12 record in the playoffs with New England, including a 6–3 record in Super Bowls. He led the Patriots to 17 divisional titles, including five consecutive titles from2003 to2007 and eleven consecutive titles from2009 to2019. This streak of 11 consecutive playoff appearances is the most in NFL history for any team.[164]
North Carolina Tar Heels (2025–present)
Belichick with North Carolina in 2025
On December 11, 2024, Belichick was named the 35th head football coach of theNorth Carolina Tar Heels football team. This would be Belichick's first time coaching at the collegiate level.[165] He would employ a staff with deep NFL experience, along with both of his sonsBrian andStephen Belichick as assistant coaches. During an introductory press conference, new general managerMike Lombardi said that he and Belichick considered the program to be the "33rd NFL team", stating that they intended on building a pro team and that everyone involved with the program had some form or aspect in professional football.[166][167] Belichick was reported to earn $10 million annually, with the first three years guaranteed, and $3.5 million in annual incentives.[1] Belichick would also refuse to allow Patriots scouts on campus due to his acrimonious end with the franchise.[168]
Belichick began the2025 season by losing his collegiate coaching debut 14–48 againstTCU, allowing both the most points by an opposing team ever in Belichick's career as head coach and the most by North Carolina in a season opener in its history.[169] He would have his first win with the program the next week away againstCharlotte, winning by a score of 20–3, and his first home win a week after that againstRichmond by a score of 41–6.[170][171] However, North Carolina would lose their next four games before getting their first ACC conference win againstSyracuse by a score of 27–10.[172] The next week, Belichick would lead UNC to a second consecutive ACC win againstStanford with a score of 20–15.[173] However, this was followed with a losing streak against all three in-state rivalsWake Forest,Duke andNC State, ending Belichick's debut UNC season with a 4–8 record, failing to qualify for a bowl game for the first time since 2018.[168]
Media career
While still serving as head coach for the Patriots in 2019, Belichick appeared as one of three main analysts, alongside hostRich Eisen andCris Collinsworth, for theNFL 100 All-Time Team series onNFL Network, serving as a voter, in addition to providing his analysis of each member's significance and breaking down tape of highlight plays. Belichick was chosen in these roles due to his exceptional knowledge of American football, to the extent that he and fellow former head coachJohn Madden were specifically assigned to look over film of the earliest players selected to the team.[174] Belichick was awarded aSports Emmy in 2021 for his contributions to the series.[175]
After leaving the Patriots in 2024, Belichick, while still declaring himself an active head coach, officially agreed to appear every Monday afternoon during the2024 NFL season withESPN'sThe Pat McAfee Show, first appearing as an analyst on the show during its "5th Annual Draft Spectacular", covering the2024 NFL draft, following a guest appearance weeks prior.[176][177]
Through the latter half of his career with the Patriots, Belichick was considered a candidate for future induction to thePro Football Hall of Fame.[179] On January 27, 2026, it was reported that Belichick had not been elected to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot, failing to reach the requisite 40 of 50 votes from a panel consisting of media members and members of the Hall of Fame.[180] The exclusion of Belichick led members of the media, current and former players, and members of the Hall of Fame to react with shock, disbelief, and anger, with many of them considering it a snub.[181][182][183][184][185]Tom Brady andRobert Kraft, who worked with Belichick throughout the Patriots' period of success, both expressed disappointment at the decision.[186] PresidentDonald Trump called Belichick's exclusion "ridiculous."[187]
It was reported that Belichick's candidacy was harmed by Hall of Fame member and longtimeIndianapolis Colts executiveBill Polian, who was one of the voters and who felt that Belichick should "wait a year" before induction due to Belichick's alleged role in theSpygate andDeflategate controversies, and shared that opinion with his fellow voters.[180] Polian denied lobbying voters against Belichick's candidacy, and initially claimed to have voted for Belichick, before later saying that he could not recall "with 100% certainty" that he voted for Belichick.[188] On January 29, the Pro Football Hall of Fame stated that Polian had in fact voted for Belichick, and that Polian did not speak during a discussion surrounding Belichick's candidacy.[189]
Belichick's failure to be inducted on the first ballot led to some media members calling for a reform of the Hall of Fame voting process.[190][191]
During the offseason, Belichick visits other football programs to learn from their experiences. For example, he has studied the Navy run offense, soughtBill Walsh (in past years) to understand more about theSan Francisco 49ers as an organization and theWest Coast offense as a system,[220] and spent time withJimmy Johnson to learn about drafting and contractnegotiations.[221] Belichick also learned about defensive backs fromBill Cowher and wanted to hire Cowher as an assistant, though Cowher opted to stay loyal toMarty Schottenheimer.[222]
The track record of Belichick's coaching tree has been characterized as poor. Former assistant coaches under Belichick had a combined 208–296–1 (.413) record as head coaches of their own teams through November 28, 2020, and a number of them ended their brief tenures as head coaches by being fired midseason.[223] As of the end of the 2020 season, the only members of this coaching tree to have career NFL head coaching records above .500 were former coaches Groh (9–7) and O'Brien (52–48 during season, 2–4 in playoffs).[224]
Personal life
Nick Saban and Belichick are good friends. In 2007, when Belichick spoke about their relationship, he said: "Two successfulCroats in the same division of NFL. You must admit, you don't see that every day." (At the time, Saban was the head coach of the NFL'sMiami Dolphins, who play in the same division as the New England Patriots.)[225] In May 2018, PresidentDonald Trump appointed Belichick to be a member of his Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition.[226]
In August 2025, Belichick and his partnerJordon Hudson submitted 17 trademark applications through their company, TCE Rights Management. Among these are phrases linked to Belichick, such as "Chapel Bill," "Belestrator," "The Belichick Way," "Trail of Salty Tears," "Gold Digger," and "No Days Off."[232]
Family and relationships
Belichick married Debby Clarke Belichick in 1977. They divorced in 2006.[233][234] They have three children. Their daughter Amanda played lacrosse atWesleyan University, and as of 2025 has been the head women's lacrosse coach at theCollege of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts since July 2015.[235][236] Their sonStephen played lacrosse and football atRutgers University, served as an assistant coach with the Patriots, and as of 2025 has been the defensive coordinator for the University of North Carolina.[237][238] Their sonBrian is also an assistant coach with the University of North Carolina.[239]
Starting in 2007, Belichick was in a relationship with Linda Holliday, the executive director of the Bill Belichick Foundation.[240][241] The relationship ended in 2023.
On January 10, 2021,Politico reported then-presidentDonald Trump planned to award Belichick thePresidential Medal of Freedom.[244] Belichick indicated that he was flattered to be considered for the honor, but declined the award in a statement issued the next day.[245] His statement referenced theJanuary 6 United States Capitol attack, which the House of Representatives had accused Trump of provoking when it impeached him for the second time of his presidency, and cited Belichick's "great reverence for our nation's values, freedom and democracy" in light of that event.[246][247] A number of Massachusetts politicians, including SenatorEd Markey and RepresentativeJim McGovern, had previously called on him to decline after news of the award became public.[248]
In popular culture
The Belichick Plaza at Wesleyan University (formerly Warren Street lobby) was dedicated in recognition of the leadership and generosity of Belichick.[249]
In theMadden NFL video game series, his name is not used because he is not a member of theNFL Coaches Association, which licenses the game. Belichick is the only NFL head coach who has chosen not to join the association.[251]
Belichick is well known as a fan of the rock bandBon Jovi, who visited Patriots training camp on August 14, 2006, and in 2019.[252][253][254] Their 2002 song "Bounce" is dedicated to Belichick.[255]
In September 2011, a two-hour documentary following Belichick through the entire 2009 season was aired as the first two episodes of theNFL Network documentary seriesA Football Life. According to NFL Network, the premiere was the most-watched documentary in the history of the NFL Network, and the second-most watched broadcast in the Boston media market, beating all the broadcast networks, and finishing second only to aBoston Red Sox game.[257]
In theFamily Guy episode "3 Acts of God" it is revealed thatGod won't let the New England Patriots win games because Belichick never smiles.[258]
In October 2017, Belichick was referenced in the rap groupMigos' single "MotorSport" featuring Cardi B and Nicki Minaj. The song includes lyrics referencing his role inDeflategate.
Episode 96 ofESPN's30 for 30 series is entitled "The Two Bills", and covers the history between Belichick andBill Parcells.[261]
In 2024, Belichick is reportedly planning on writing a football leadership guide modelled afterFinding the Winning Edge (1998) written by Bill Walsh.[262][263]
In 2024, Belichick joined as a regular guest onESPN'sThe Pat McAfee Show during the NFL season to provide commentary and analysis. He first appeared as an analyst on the show during its"5th Annual Draft Spectacular", covering the2024 NFL draft, following a guest appearance weeks prior.[178]
In 2024, Belichick appeared as surprise guest participant on the Netflix specialThe Roast of Tom Brady, appearing alongside many former Patriots alumni.[178]
In 2024,Peyton Manning revealed duringThe Roast of Tom Brady that Belichick would join the Manning brothers (Peyton andEli) in making appearances for ESPN'sManningcast, an alternate live television broadcast ofMonday Night Football.[178]
In March 2024, Belichick, Brady and owner Robert Kraft's 20-year journey was examined in theApple TV+ 10-part documentary seriesThe Dynasty: New England Patriots, whose aim was to "reveal the cost of greatness."[264]
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^"Modell fires Bill Belichick".Gettysburg Times. February 15, 1996. p. B2.Archived from the original on May 23, 2020. RetrievedMarch 29, 2016 – via Google News.
^Reiss, Mike (September 14, 2007)."Big fines for Belichick, team".The Boston Globe.Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. RetrievedSeptember 20, 2022.
^King, Peter (November 25, 2019)."FMIA Week 12: Why Dominant, Deep 49ers Might Be NFL's Scariest Team".ProFootballTalk. Archived fromthe original on March 26, 2023. RetrievedNovember 25, 2019.The committee of 25 had two long conference calls in April 2018 to handle the nominating process. Belichick and Madden were tabbed to pore over film and their own knowledge to issue a report to the committee on the players in the early years of the league. There was a vote to trim the list to 160 in mid-May, after considering the true old-timers recommended by Belichick and Madden. Over a long meeting in late May, final discussions and debates were held. Our votes were due June 15, 2018.
^"The BBF Mission".Bill Belichick Foundation.Archived from the original on September 8, 2019. RetrievedMay 20, 2019.
^Cocuzzo, Robert; Percelay, Bruce A. (June 28, 2017)."Winning Combination".Nantucket Magazine.Archived from the original on May 25, 2019. RetrievedMay 20, 2019.
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