 Belichick walking onto the field before a Pats game in 2013. | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born: | April 16 1953 |
| Nashville, Tennessee | |
| Listed height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.55 m) |
| Coaching Record | |
| 333-178-0 | |
| Coaching career | |
| Championships: | 6 Super Bowl wins |
| s primary color}} | 16–0 (1.000) |
| (2007) | |
| Years active: | 1975-present |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Annapolis (MD) |
| {New England P | Weslyan (CT) |
| Career history | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| External links | |
| Stats at Pro-football-reference | |
William Stephen "Bill" Belichick (born April 16, 1952) is an American football coach.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest head coaches of all time, he holds numerous coaching records, including the record of most Super Bowl wins (six) as a head coach, all with the New England Patriots, along with two more during his time as the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants, for the record of eight combined total Super Bowl victories as coach and coordinator. 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. During his tenure with the Patriots, he was a central figure as the head coach and de facto general manager during the franchise's dynasty from 2001 to 2019.
Belichick is a descendant of the Bill Parcells coaching tree. He began his coaching career in 1975 as an assistant for the Baltimore Colts, and became the defensive coordinator for New York Giants head coach Bill Parcells by 1985. Parcells and Belichick won two Super Bowls together before Belichick left to become the head coach of the Cleveland Browns in 1991. He remained in Cleveland for five seasons but was fired following the team's 1995 season. He rejoined Parcells, first in New England where the team lost Super Bowl XXXI, and later with the New 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 New England Patriots on January 27, 2000. In 24 seasons under Belichick, the Patriots won 17 AFC East division titles, made 13 appearances in the AFC 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.
At the time he left the Patriots, Belichick was the NFL's longest-tenured active head coach. He has the most playoff coaching wins all-time with 31 and ranks third in regular season coaching wins in the NFL with 302. In addition, Belichick is in second place for combined regular season and postseason wins, and also second place for most regular season coaching wins with one franchise. He is one of only three head coaches who have won six NFL titles. He was named the AP NFL Coach of the Year for the 2003, 2007, and 2010 seasons. Belichick has also been selected to the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, as well as the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, and is the only active head coach on the latter team.
Early Life[]
Belichick was born in Nashville, Tennessee, and was raised in Annapolis, Maryland. His father was former Detroit Lions Fullback Steve Belichick. Bill played Center and Tight end for Wesleyan University.
Coaching Career[]
Baltimore Colts[]
Belichick served as an assistant coach to the Baltimore Colts in 1975 under Head Coach Ed Marchibroada.
Detroit Lions[]
From 1976 - 1977 he serves as the Special Teams Coach for the Detroit Lions, the team that his father had played for. Tight Ends and Wide Receivers were added to his specialties in his second year with the team.
Denver Broncos[]
After leaving the Lions, he spent a year as the Bronco's Assistant Special Teams Coach, and Defensive Assistant.
New York Giants[]
In 1979, he began a twelve year career with the New York Giants alongside Head Coach Ray Perkins as a defensive assistant, and special teams coach. In 1985 he was named Defensive Coordinator by Head Coach Bill Parcels. He won two Super Bowls with the Giants. His defensive game plan of his last Super Bowl with the Giants is now in the Hall of Fame.
Cleveland Browns[]
In 1991, Bill Belichick got his first job as head coach, with the Cleveland Browns. Over the course of five seasons, he went 36-44-0. He is currently the last coach to win a Playoff Game with the Cleveland Browns. But soon, the team would move to Baltimore, and Belichick would resign.
New England Patriots[]
In 1996, Belichick was named assistant head coach, and defensive backs coach, by his former mentor, Bill Parcels. The team made it to the AFC Championship Game, but lost to the Green Bay Packers. Though his stint with the Patriots would be short, he'd be back.
New York Jets[]
The very next season, Belichick moved to the New York Jets along with his head coach Bill Parcells, and much of the rest of the Patriots assistant coaches. He served as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for the Jets from 1997 - 1999. When Parcells stepped down as Head Coach, the Jets were prepared to name Belichick Head Coach. But during the press announcement for what was supposed to be Belichick taking over the Jets, he announced his resignation, leaving the job to Al Groh. The move was one that greatly upset the Jets, especially as Belichick was still under contract. The Patriots were forced to give up compensation -- a 1st round pick in the 2000 NFL Draft. They used the pick to trade up with the San Francisco 49ers, and picked Shaun Ellis.
New England Patriots[]
It was with the New England Patriots that Belichick would become the feared coach that he is today. With the Patriots, he's won three Super Bowls. To date, he's only had one losing season with the team, which was his first year with the team.
Head coaching record[]
| Team | Year | Regular Season | Post Season | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| CLE | 1991 | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 3rd in AFC Central | - | - | - | - |
| CLE | 1992 | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3rd in AFC Central | - | - | - | - |
| CLE | 1993 | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 3rd in AFC Central | - | - | - | - |
| CLE | 1994 | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 2nd in AFC Central | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost to Pittsburgh Steelers in AFC Divisional Playoff |
| CLE | 1995 | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 4th in AFC Central | - | - | - | - |
| CLE Total | 36 | 44 | 0 | .450 | 1 | 1 | .500 | |||
| NE | 2000 | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 4th in AFC East | - | - | - | - |
| NE | 2001 | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 1st in AFC East | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | Super Bowl XXXVI Champions |
| NE | 2002 | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 2nd in AFC East | - | - | - | - |
| NE | 2003 | 14 | 2 | 0 | .875 | 1st in AFC East | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | Super Bowl XXXVIII Champions |
| NE | 2004 | 14 | 2 | 0 | .875 | 1st in AFC East | 3 | 0 | 1.000 | Super Bowl XXXIX Champions |
| NE | 2005 | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 1st in AFC East | 1 | 1 | .500 | Lost to Denver Broncos in AFC Divisional Playoff |
| NE | 2006 | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 1st in AFC East | 2 | 1 | .667 | Lost to Indianapolis Colts in AFC Championship Game |
| NE | 2007 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1st in AFC East | 2 | 1 | .667 | Lost to New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII |
| NE | 2008 | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 2nd in AFC East | - | - | - | - |
| NE | 2009 | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 1st in AFC East | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to Baltimore Ravens in Wild Card Playoff |
| NE | 2010 | 14 | 2 | 0 | .875 | 1st in AFC East | 0 | 1 | .000 | Lost to New York Jets in AFC Divisional Playoff |
|
NE Total |
113 | 48 | 0 | .708 | 14 | 4 | .778 | |||
| Total | 149 | 92 | 0 | .618 | 15 | 5 | .750 |
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