Bill Belichick facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bill Belichick

Belichick in 2017
Current position
Title	Head coach
Team	North Carolina
Conference	ACC
Record	0–0
Annual salary	$10 million
Biographical details
Born	(1952-04-16) April 16, 1952 (age 73) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Alma mater	Wesleyan University
Playing career
1971–1974	Wesleyan Cardinals
Position(s)	Center Tight end
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1975	Baltimore Colts (special assistant)
1976	Detroit Lions (assistant ST)
1977	Detroit Lions (WR/TE)
1978	Denver Broncos (assistant ST/def. assistant)
1979	New York Giants (ST/def. assistant)
1980–1984	New York Giants (ST/LB)
1985–1990	New York Giants (DC)
1991–1995	Cleveland Browns
1996	New England Patriots (assistant HC/DB)
1997–1999	New York Jets (assistant HC/DC)
2000–2023	New England Patriots
2025–present	North Carolina
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
1992–1995	Cleveland Browns (De facto GM)
2000–2023	New England Patriots (De facto GM)
Head coaching record
Overall	NCAA: 0–0 NFL: 333–178
Bowls	0–0
Tournaments	NFL: 31–13
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
As a head coach 6× Super Bowl champion (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX, LI, LIII) As an assistant coach 2× Super Bowl champion (XXI, XXV)
Awards
As a head coach 3× AP NFL Coach of the Year (2003, 2007, 2010) Maxwell Club NFL Coach of the Year (2007) NFL 2000s All-Decade Team NFL 2010s All-Decade Team NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team New England Patriots All-2000s Team New England Patriots 50th Anniversary Team New England Patriots All-2010s Team New England Patriots All-Dynasty Team As an executive PFWA Executive of the Year (2021)
Records
NFL records Most Super Bowl wins: 8 Most Super Bowl wins as a head coach: 6 Most Super Bowl appearances: 12 Most Super Bowl appearances as a head coach: 9 Most playoff wins as a head coach: 31 Most playoff appearances as a head coach: 19 (tied) Most divisional championships as a head coach: 17

William Stephen Belichick (born April 16, 1952) is a famous American football coach. He is currently the head football coach at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Many people think he is one of the greatest head coaches in football history.

Belichick holds many coaching records. He has won the most Super Bowls as a head coach, with six victories. All of these wins were with the New England Patriots. He also won two more Super Bowls as a defensive coordinator for the New York Giants. This gives him a record eight Super Bowl wins in total as a coach.

Belichick is known for his deep understanding of football. He is often called a "student of the game." During his time with the Patriots from 2001 to 2019, he was the main coach and had a lot of control over the team. This period is known as the Patriots' dynasty.

Belichick started his coaching career in 1975. He worked as an assistant for the Baltimore Colts. By 1985, he became the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants under coach Bill Parcells. They won two Super Bowls together. Belichick then became the head coach of the Cleveland Browns in 1991. He coached there for five seasons.

After leaving the Browns, Belichick joined Parcells again. First, he was with the New England Patriots, where they reached Super Bowl XXXI. Later, he joined the New York Jets. In a surprising move, Belichick resigned from the Jets after just one day as their head coach. He then took the head coaching job for the Patriots on January 27, 2000.

For 24 seasons with the Patriots, Belichick led the team to amazing success. They won 17 AFC East division titles and played in 13 AFC Championship Games. They also appeared in nine Super Bowls, winning a record six of them. Belichick has won eight Super Bowl titles in total, including his time as an assistant coach. He has also been a runner-up four times.

When Belichick left the Patriots, he was the longest-serving active head coach in the NFL. He has the most playoff coaching wins ever, with 31. He is also third in regular season coaching wins with 302. Belichick is one of only three head coaches to win six NFL titles. He was named the NFL Coach of the Year three times (2003, 2007, 2010). He was also chosen for the National Football League 2000s All-Decade Team, National Football League 2010s All-Decade Team, and the National Football League 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Early Life and Education

Belichick was born in Nashville, Tennessee, on April 16, 1952. His parents were Jeannette and Steve Belichick. He was named after College Football Hall of Fame coach Bill Edwards, who was his godfather. Belichick has Croatian family roots. His grandparents came from Croatia in 1897.

He grew up in Annapolis, Maryland, where his father was a football coach at the United States Naval Academy. Belichick often says his father taught him a lot about football. He learned to study game films at a young age by watching his father work.

Belichick graduated from Annapolis High School in 1970. He played football and lacrosse there. Lacrosse was his favorite sport. He then went to Phillips Academy for a year to improve his grades. In 2011, the school honored him by putting him in its Athletics Hall of Honor.

Belichick attended Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. He played center and tight end in football. He also played lacrosse and squash, and was the captain of the lacrosse team in his senior year. He earned a degree in economics in 1975. In 2008, he was one of the first people inducted into Wesleyan's Athletics Hall of Fame.

Coaching Career

Starting as an Assistant Coach

After college, Belichick started his coaching career in 1975. He took a job as an assistant for the Baltimore Colts. In 1976, he joined the Detroit Lions as an assistant special teams coach. He later also coached tight ends and wide receivers. In 1978, he worked for the Denver Broncos as an assistant special teams coach and defensive assistant.

New York Giants (1979–1990)

In 1979, Belichick began a 12-year period with the New York Giants. He started as a defensive assistant and special teams coach. In 1985, he became the defensive coordinator under head coach Bill Parcells. The Giants won Super Bowl XXI in 1987 and Super Bowl XXV in 1991. Belichick's defensive plan for Super Bowl XXV is even in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Cleveland Browns (1991–1995)

From 1991 to 1995, Belichick was the head coach of the Cleveland Browns. During this time, his team had a record of 36 wins and 44 losses. He led the Browns to the playoffs in 1994, which was his only winning season with the team. They won a playoff game against the New England Patriots that year.

In 1995, the Browns' owner announced he would move the team to Baltimore. Belichick was fired in February 1996. Many sports writers later said that Belichick had set up the team for future success, even though he was fired.

New England Patriots (1996)

After leaving the Browns, Belichick worked with Bill Parcells again. He was an assistant head coach and defensive backs coach for the New England Patriots in 1996. The Patriots had a good season, reaching Super Bowl XXXI, but they lost to the Green Bay Packers.

New York Jets (1997–1999)

Belichick had two short times as the head coach of the New York Jets, but he never actually coached a game for them. In 1997, he was named interim head coach while the Jets tried to get Bill Parcells. When Parcells joined, Belichick became his assistant.

In 2000, Parcells stepped down, and Belichick was supposed to take over. However, on January 4, 2000, the day he was introduced, Belichick surprised everyone by resigning. He wrote a note that simply said, "I resign as HC of the NYJ."

Soon after, the Patriots hired Belichick. The NFL Commissioner decided the Patriots had to give the Jets a first-round draft pick to hire him.

Return to New England (2000–2023)

When Belichick joined the Patriots, owner Robert Kraft gave him a lot of control over the team. This meant he also acted like the team's general manager. In his first season in 2000, the Patriots had a record of 5 wins and 11 losses.

First Three Super Bowl Wins: 2001–2004

Belichick (right) during the Patriots' visit to the White House in 2004

In 2001, the Patriots finished the regular season with 11 wins and 5 losses. In the playoffs, they beat the Oakland Raiders in a famous game called the "Tuck Rule Game." They then beat the Pittsburgh Steelers to reach the Super Bowl. In Super Bowl XXXVI, Belichick's defense stopped the powerful St. Louis Rams offense. The Patriots won on a last-second field goal, earning their first Super Bowl championship.

In 2003, the Patriots started the season with a big loss. But they played very well for the rest of the year, finishing with a record of 14 wins and 2 losses. They won their playoff games and went to Super Bowl XXXVIII. They defeated the Carolina Panthers 32–29 with another late field goal. Belichick was named the NFL Coach of the Year Award.

In 2004, the Patriots again finished with a 14–2 record. They won 21 games in a row, breaking an NFL record. They beat the Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs. In Super Bowl XXXIX, the Patriots defeated the Philadelphia Eagles. This made them only the second team to win three Super Bowls in four years. Belichick is the only coach to do this.

Perfect Regular Season and More: 2005–2009

Belichick during a preseason game in 2009

In 2005, Belichick became the winningest coach in Patriots history. The team made the playoffs but lost to the Denver Broncos. In 2006, they reached the AFC Championship Game but lost to the Indianapolis Colts.

In 2007, Belichick led the Patriots to a perfect 16–0 regular season. This was only the fourth team in NFL history to do so. They won their playoff games and reached Super Bowl XLII. However, they were upset by the New York Giants 17–14. This loss meant they did not achieve a "perfect season" (undefeated including playoffs).

In 2008, star quarterback Tom Brady was injured early in the season. Even with many injuries, the Patriots still had a winning record of 11–5. But they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2002. In 2009, with Brady back, the Patriots won their division but lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Spygate Incident

In 2007, an incident called "Spygate" happened. A Patriots video assistant was caught taping the New York Jets' defensive signals from an unapproved area. NFL rules say video recording devices are not allowed in certain places during a game.

The NFL fined Belichick $500,000, which was the largest fine ever for a coach. The Patriots team was also fined $250,000 and lost their first-round draft pick in 2008. The NFL Commissioner said Belichick's actions were the team's responsibility.

Belichick said he took "full responsibility" for what happened. He apologized and said his "interpretation of a rule...was incorrect." He stated that their use of sideline video did not affect the outcome of the game. After this, Belichick led the Patriots to their perfect 16–0 regular season and won the 2007 NFL Coach of the Year Award.

More Super Bowls and Famous Moments: 2010–2019

Belichick at the 2012 Time 100 gala

Belichick at the White House with President Barack Obama and Patriots' owner Robert Kraft in April 2015

In 2010, the Patriots had a 14–2 record but lost in the first round of the playoffs. In 2011, they reached Super Bowl XLVI but lost to the New York Giants again.

In 2012, Belichick was fined $50,000 for touching an official's arm during a game. The Patriots made it to the AFC Championship Game but lost to the Baltimore Ravens.

In 2013, the Patriots faced many changes to their offense. Despite this, they finished with a 12–4 record and won their division. They lost in the AFC Championship Game to the Denver Broncos.

In 2014, the Patriots started 2–2. After a tough loss, Belichick famously said, "We're on to Cincinnati" multiple times in a press conference, meaning they were moving on to focus on their next opponent. They finished 12–4 and went on to win Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks. This was Belichick's fourth Super Bowl win as a head coach, tying him for the most ever.

In 2016, the Patriots had a 14–2 record. They reached Super Bowl LI and made an incredible comeback from being down 28–3 to beat the Atlanta Falcons in overtime. This was Belichick's record fifth Super Bowl title as a head coach.

In 2017, the Patriots went 13–3 and reached Super Bowl LII. They lost a high-scoring game to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Belichick in 2019

In 2018, the Patriots went 11–5 and won their division again. They won two tough playoff games to reach Super Bowl LIII. In the Super Bowl, they defeated the Los Angeles Rams 13–3. This gave Belichick his sixth Super Bowl championship as a head coach and his eighth overall. His six championships tied him with other legendary coaches for the most ever.

In 2019, Belichick also took on the role of defensive coordinator. He earned his 300th win as a head coach (regular season and playoffs combined). The Patriots won their division but lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Brady's Departure and Final Years in New England: 2020–2023

After Tom Brady left the Patriots in 2020, the team faced a new challenge at quarterback. They signed Cam Newton, but the season was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Patriots finished with a 7–9 record, Belichick's first losing season since his first year with the team.

In 2021, the Patriots drafted quarterback Mac Jones. Belichick named Jones the starter. The team finished 10–7 and made the playoffs, but lost in the first round.

In 2022, the Patriots finished 8–9. In 2023, they had a tough season, finishing 4–13, which was Belichick's worst record with the team. On January 11, 2024, Belichick and the Patriots decided to part ways.

Overall Record in New England

Under Belichick, the Patriots had a regular-season record of 266 wins and 121 losses over 24 seasons. He is the most successful coach in Patriots history. He also had a playoff record of 30 wins and 12 losses, including 6 Super Bowl wins. He led the Patriots to 17 division titles, including a record 11 in a row from 2009 to 2019.

North Carolina Tar Heels (2025–Present)

On December 11, 2024, Belichick was named the head football coach for the North Carolina Tar Heels football team. This will be his first time coaching at the college level. He is expected to earn $10 million each year.

Media Career

While still coaching the Patriots in 2019, Belichick appeared as an analyst for the NFL 100 All-Time Team series on NFL Network. He was chosen because of his amazing knowledge of football history. He even won a Sports Emmy in 2021 for his work on the show.

After leaving the Patriots in 2024, Belichick joined ESPN's The Pat McAfee Show as an analyst. He also joined the "Manningcast" with Peyton Manning and Eli Manning for Monday Night Football broadcasts.

Head Coaching Record

NFL

College

Coaching Tree

Bill Belichick has worked for six head coaches:

• Ted Marchibroda, Baltimore Colts (1975)
• Rick Forzano, Detroit Lions (1976)
• Tommy Hudspeth, Detroit Lions (1976–1977)
• Red Miller, Denver Broncos (1978)
• Ray Perkins, New York Giants (1979–1982)
• Bill Parcells, New York Giants (1983–1990), New England Patriots (1996), New York Jets (1997–1999)

Many of Belichick's assistant coaches have gone on to become head coaches themselves. This is often called a "coaching tree." Some of them include:

• Nick Saban, who became a very successful college coach.
• Romeo Crennel, Cleveland Browns (2005–2008)
• Charlie Weis, Notre Dame (2005–2009)
• Eric Mangini, New York Jets (2006–2008)
• Josh McDaniels, Denver Broncos (2009–2010)
• Bill O'Brien, Houston Texans (2014–2020)
• Brian Flores, Miami Dolphins (2019–2021)
• Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots (2024)

Two of Belichick's former players also became head coaches:

• Kliff Kingsbury, Arizona Cardinals (2019-2023)
• Mike Vrabel, Tennessee Titans (2018-2023)

Personal Life

Belichick has dual Croatian and American citizenship. He received Croatian citizenship in June 2024. He has an Alaskan Klee Kai dog named Nike, who became famous after appearing during the 2020 NFL draft.

Family

Belichick was married to Debby Clarke from 1977 to 2006. They have three children. Their daughter, Amanda, is a college lacrosse coach. Their son, Stephen, is currently a defensive coordinator for the University of North Carolina. Their son, Brian, is also an assistant coach.

Belichick was in a relationship with Linda Holliday from 2007 to 2023. In June 2024, it was reported he was in a relationship with Jordon Hudson.

Declined Presidential Medal of Freedom

In January 2021, then-President Donald Trump planned to give Belichick the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Belichick said he was honored but declined the award. He mentioned the January 6 United States Capitol attack and his respect for "our nation's values, freedom and democracy" as reasons for his decision.

Images for kids

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  Belichick in 2017