Official website of the New England Patriots

Bill Belichick

Head Coach

College: Wesleyan

Hometown: Annapolis, MD

Experience: 49 years

Biography

Bill Belichick completed his 48th season as an NFL coach in 2022 and is in his 24th season as head coach of the New England Patriots. Belichick is the only head coach in NFL history to win six Super Bowl titles. In 2018, Belichick won his sixth Super Bowl, joining George Halas and Curly Lambeau as the only NFL coaches with six championships. He enters his 49th consecutive year as an NFL coach in 2023, the most consecutive seasons of any NFL coach. Pro Football Hall of Famer Dick LeBeau (45) is second. The only other NFL coach with at least 40 consecutive NFL coaching seasons is Tom Moore with 41.

BELICHICK BY THE NUMBERS

49th NFL Coaching Season
29th Head Coaching Season
24th Season as Patriots Head Coach
Career Record: 329-165 (.666)
Regular Season: 298-151 (.664)
Postseason: 31-13 (.705)
Patriots Record: 292-120 (.709)

OVERVIEW

Bill Belichick completed his 48th season as an NFL coach in 2022 and is in his 23rd season as head coach of the New England Patriots. Belichick is the only head coach in NFL history to win six Super Bowl titles. In 2018, Belichick won his sixth Super Bowl, joining George Halas and Curly Lambeau as the only NFL coaches with six championships. He enters his 49th consecutive year as an NFL coach in 2022, the most consecutive seasons as an NFL coach. Pro Football Hall of Famer Dick LeBeau (45) is second. The only other NFL coach with at least 40 consecutive NFL coaching seasons is Tom Moore with 41.

Entering 2023, Belichick owns the most wins among all active coaches and ranks second all-time with 329 total victories as a head coach. Belichick's winning percentage of .666 ranks second in NFL history among coaches with 150 or more wins, trailing only George Halas (.682). He led the Patriots to a winning record for 19 consecutive seasons (2001-19), behind only Dallas' Tom Landry, who recorded 20 consecutive winning seasons from 1966-85. Belichick has also notched 31 postseason wins in his career, the most by a head coach in NFL history. Belichick, who was hired by Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft on Jan. 27, 2000, completed his 23rd season with the Patriots in 2022. In 23 seasons, Belichick has delivered six Super Bowl championships, nine conference titles, 17 division crowns (with 2002 and 2008 lost on tiebreakers) and 30 playoff victories, while posting an overall record of 292-120. In 2019, the Patriots won their 11th consecutive division championship, extending their NFL record previously held by the L.A. Rams (1973-79). Belichick directed the Patriots to victories in Super Bowls XXXVI (2001), XXXVIII (2003), XXXIX (2004), XLIX (2014), LI (2016) and LIII (2018), and in 2007 he became the only NFL head coach to guide his team to a 16-0 regular season. From 2003 to 2004, Belichick coached the Patriots to a winning streak of 21 consecutive games, including the postseason. In 2018, Belichick joined Marv Levy (4) and Don Shula (3) as the only NFL head coaches to lead their team to three consecutive Super Bowl appearances.

Despite an NFL system designed to ensure parity, Belichick's program has produced a remarkable run of sustained on-field success. From 2000-19, the Patriots won 74% of their regular season games (267-94), the highest winning percentage of any major American professional sports team over that span. Over a 100-game stretch from 2003-09, Belichick directed the team to 81 wins, the most in NFL history by a head coach. Additionally, the Patriots finished 2019 with 141 wins (regular and postseason) in the decade from 2010-19, surpassing their previous NFL record for wins in a decade with 126 victories from 2000-09. From 2011-18, Belichick's teams won the AFC East title and advanced in the playoffs, with the Patriots eight straight years of playoff advancement extending their NFL record previously held by Dallas with six (1991-96). Additionally, New England set an NFL record by qualifying for the playoffs for 11 straight seasons (2009-19), besting Dallas and Indianapolis, who qualified for the postseason for nine consecutive years.

Belichick's 31 career playoff wins are the most all-time among head coaches, while New England's 16 playoff victories from 2010-19 are the most in any decade in NFL history. He has compiled a career playoff record of 31-13. His .705 playoff winning percentage places him fifth in NFL history.

In addition, the Patriots have consistently maintained their focus throughout the year and have played their best football late in the season. From 2001 through 2019, the Patriots led the league with a 114-35 (.765) overall record in games played on Thanksgiving or later in the NFL season, including playoffs. The club also posted an NFL-best 45-17 (.726) mark during that time in games played on Christmas or later in the NFL season and were an NFL-best 67-16 (.807) in the month of December.

Additionally, Belichick is the first head coach in NFL history to lead a team to three straight 500-point seasons (2010-12) and the Patriots are the first franchise in NFL history to score 500 or more points in four seasons (2007-589, 2010-518, 2011-513 and 2012-557).

In the victory over the Cleveland Browns at home on Oct. 27, 2019, Belichick became the third head coach in NFL history to win 300 games, doing so in his 434th NFL game, faster than Don Shula (445 games) and George Halas (455 games).

2022 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS

The 2022 Patriots overcame a 1-3 start by winning five of their next six games and entered the final week of the season with an 8-8 record and a chance to secure a playoff position with a victory at Buffalo. Unfortunately, a 35-23 loss to the Bills and wins by Pittsburgh and Miami eliminated New England from the postseason.

The Patriots defense finished eighth in the NFL in yards allowed and finished near the top in several categories. The defense finished tied with San Francisco for second in the NFL with 30 takeaways (Dallas had 33), third in the NFL with 19 interceptions (Pittsburgh and San Francisco each had 20) and tied with Dallas for third in the NFL with 54 sacks (Philadelphia had 70 and Kansas City had 55). In addition, the Patriots set a team record with an NFL-leading seven defensive touchdowns, including a stretch of four straight games with a defensive score. The Patriots also tied a team record with five interceptions returned for touchdowns. S Kyle Dugger scored three of those touchdowns, the most defensive touchdowns by a Patriots player since the 1970 NFL merger. The Patriots had two players finish with double-digit sacks, with LB Matthew Judon setting a career high with 15½ sacks and LB Josh Uche with a career-high 11½ sacks.

On offense, RB Rhamondre Stevenson reached 1,000 rushing yards for the first time in his career. He became New England's first 1,000 yard rusher since the 2016 season.

Another highlight of the 2022 season was third-round draft pick Marcus Jones, who scored on offense, defense and special teams to become the fourth player in NFL history to do so and the first since the 1947 season. Jones also finished second in the NFL with a 12.5 yard punt return average and finished second in the NFL with 1,007 total return yards. He became the Patriots first rookie to earn Associated Press first-team All-Pro honors when he was selected as a punt returner.

THE PATRIOTS YEARS

Since he became the Patriots head coach, Belichick needed just one season to successfully implement his plan for success. In 2001, his second season in charge, the Patriots rebounded from a 5-11 record in 2000 to improve to 11-5, tying what was then the franchise record for regular-season wins. With a 20-17 victory over the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI, the Patriots tied the franchise's then-record of 14 overall wins. In 2003 and 2004, the Patriots eclipsed those marks in each season, posting identical 14-2 records in the regular season and notching 17 total wins and a Super Bowl title in each year.

From 2003-04, Belichick directed the Patriots through the most prosperous two-year period for any team in NFL history, netting back-to-back Super Bowl victories and consecutive 17-2 campaigns. The team's 34 victories from 2003-04 mark the highest two-year win total in the NFL's 101-year history. An overall winning streak of 21 consecutive games, including the postseason – also unprecedented in NFL annals – spanned the two seasons. New England was undefeated at home in both 2003 and 2004, and set a franchise record by winning 21 straight home games from 2002-05. New England matched the franchise record of 21 straight wins at home from 2017-19.

During the 2004 season, the Patriots tied the regular-season record by a defending Super Bowl champion (14-2). New England capped the year with another memorable playoff run, culminating in a 24-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX.

In 2005, New England won 11 games despite being forced to use 45 different starters, an NFL record for a division champion. After starting the season 4-4 and facing a rash of injuries, the Patriots won six of their next seven games to claim their third straight division title.

In 2006, Belichick directed the Patriots to a berth in the AFC Championship Game for the third time in four years and for the fourth time in six seasons. New England won the AFC East division for the fourth consecutive season and set a franchise record by allowing just 14.8 points per game. The Patriots 14 total victories tied what was then the second highest total in franchise history.

In 2007, Belichick earned Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year honors as the Patriots became the fourth team in the league's history to complete an undefeated regular season and the first to achieve the feat since the NFL increased the number of regular season games from 14 to 16 in 1978. Belichick joined Pro Football Hall of Famers George Halas and Don Shula as the only head coaches to complete undefeated regular seasons. New England's 18 overall victories in 2007 tied the 1985 Chicago Bears and the 1984 San Francisco 49ers for the most in league history. New England became the first team in NFL history and the first major American pro sports team since 1884 to open a season with 18 straight wins. The Patriots set the then-NFL records for points (589) and touchdowns (75), while their +315 point differential still stands as the best in NFL history.

In 2008, Belichick led the Patriots to an 11-5 record. Despite losing QB Tom Brady to a season-ending injury in Week 1, New England ranked among the NFL's top-10 teams in terms of yards gained (5th), points scored (8th), fewest yards allowed (10th) and fewest points allowed (8th), marking the fourth time the club finished in the top 10 in all of those categories since joining the NFL in 1970. The Patriots also finished in the top 10 in all of those categories in 2015 and 2016. At the conclusion of the regular season, the Patriots were among the league's hottest teams, winning five of their last six games and going undefeated in December (4-0).

In 2009, the Patriots finished the season with a 10-6 record and claimed another AFC East title. They became the first team to win more than half of their games in nine straight seasons since free agency began in 1993.

In 2010, Belichick led a very young squad to an NFL-best 14-2 record, a division title and its eighth playoff appearance in his 11 seasons as New England's head coach, receiving several major awards in the process. Belichick was named Associated Press Coach of the Year for the third time, joining Don Shula (four-time winner) and Chuck Knox as the only three-time winners. In addition, Belichick earned Peter King's SI.com and Pro Football Weekly Coach of the Year.

Coach Belichick guided the Patriots to a league-best 518 points scored in 2010, third-most in franchise history behind the team's 589 points in 2007 and 557 in 2012. The club-record +28 turnover differential was a contributing factor to New England eclipsing 500 points for just the second time in team history. Belichick's constant emphasis on protecting the football paid off with two NFL records. The Patriots went an NFL-record seven consecutive games without committing a turnover. The Patriots had just 10 turnovers in 2010 (five interceptions and five fumbles), which tied a then-NFL record for fewest turnovers in a season. The New Orleans Saints committed eight turnovers in 2019.

In 2011, Belichick guided the Patriots to a 13-3 record, his fifth AFC Conference Championship and an appearance in Super Bowl XLVI. Under Belichick's guidance, the Patriots finished the 2011 season with 6,848 total net yards, setting a new franchise record for most total net yards in a season. That total is fifth all-time in NFL history.

In 2012, Belichick became the eighth head coach in NFL history to record 200 overall victories and in the process, guaranteed a .500 or better record for the Patriots for the 12th straight season with a 12-4 mark. Additionally, the Patriots made their second consecutive AFC Championship Game appearance.

From 2003-12, Belichick won more regular season games (126) and more games overall (140) over a 10-year stretch than any other head coach in NFL history. He repeated the same feat by winning 126 games from 2007-16.

In 2013, Belichick guided New England to a 12-4 record, a fifth consecutive AFC East crown and third straight appearance in the AFC Championship Game. With his fifth victory of the season in 2013, Belichick passed Chuck Noll for fifth place on the NFL wins list with his 210 as a head coach.

In 2014, Belichick led the Patriots to a win in Super Bowl XLIX, his fourth Super Bowl win as a head coach, matching Noll for the most Super Bowl victories. In the process, he won three postseason games to set an NFL record for career playoff victories by a head coach.

Belichick earned his 21st career postseason victory in the AFC Championship Game vs. Indianapolis on Jan. 18, 2015, passing Tom Landry for the most playoff wins by a head coach in NFL history.

Belichick passed Curly Lambeau for sole possession of fourth place on the all-time wins list with his 230th career victory, a 17-16 win at N.Y. Jets on Dec. 21, 2014. He added to his record with his 12th straight season with 10 or more wins and won his 12th division title.

Belichick earned his 200th regular season victory as a head coach after the Patriots 30-7 win at Minnesota on Sept. 14, 2014.

In 2015, Belichick guided New England to a 12-4 record, a record seventh consecutive AFC East crown and fifth straight AFC Championship Game.

Belichick appeared in his 10th AFC Championship Game, tying Tom Landry for most conference championship game appearances by a head coach.

In 2016, Belichick guided New England to a 34-28 overtime win against Atlanta in Super Bowl LI, his fifth Super Bowl win as a head coach, passing Chuck Noll for most Super Bowl victories by a head coach. Belichick led the Patriots to a 14-2 regular season record to become the first head coach to win at least 14 regular season games in five separate seasons. He also captured his 14th AFC East title, passing Tom Landry and Don Shula with 13. It was the eighth consecutive division crown for New England, which established another NFL record.

Belichick reached his 11th conference championship game as a head coach in 2016 to move out of a tie with Tom Landry for most by a head coach since the 1970 merger.

With a win vs. the N.Y. Jets in Week 16, Belichick won his 200th regular season game with the Patriots, becoming the fifth NFL coach to reach 200 regular season wins with one team.

Belichick led New England to a 13-3 regular season record in 2017, his eighth conference championship, an appearance in Super Bowl LII and the team's 15th division title since he became head coach in 2000.

Belichick also passed Tom Landry and Don Shula by coaching in his 37th career playoff game in the Divisional Playoff win vs. Tennessee.

With a 13-3 record in 2017, Belichick became the first coach in NFL history with 13 or more wins in seven different seasons.

In 2018, Belichick guided New England to a 13-3 win against the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII, his sixth Super Bowl win as a head coach, extending his NFL record for Super Bowl victories by a head coach. Belichick, who led New England to its eighth straight conference championship game, devised a game plan that kept the high-flying Rams offense, who averaged 30 points per game, to just a field goal, tying the fewest points ever allowed in a Super Bowl.

Belichick coached the Patriots to an 11-5 regular season record and extended his NFL record by capturing his 16th division title. It was also the club's 10th straight, which is also an NFL record.

Belichick entered the 2018 season tied with Tom Landry for third all-time in NFL history with 250 career regular season wins, behind Don Shula (328) and George Halas (318). The 27-20 opening-day win over Houston pushed him past Landry into sole possession of third place.

Belichick led New England to a 12-4 record in 2019 and his 13th career 12-win season, 17th division title, 11th consecutive division title and 11th straight season with a playoff berth. It was his 18th postseason berth, tied with Tom Landry for second all-time, behind the 19 by Don Shula. Under Belichick's guidance, the Patriots defense finished No. 1 in the NFL in total defense (275.9 yards per game) and scoring (14.1 points allowed per game).

Despite a season without a traditional offseason due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 Patriots battled all season. They finished fourth in the NFL with 2,346 rushing yards in 2020, the fourth-highest rushing total in team history. The Patriots finished the season with 4.67 yards per rushing attempt, the fourth-highest average in team history. In addition, the Patriots scored 20 rushing touchdowns, tied for sixth in the NFL in 2020.

The Patriots were a disciplined team in 2020, committing an NFL-low 62 penalties, tied for the sixth-lowest since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule and second-fewest in team history behind the 57 penalties by the 2008 Patriots team (second-fewest in a 16-game season).

The Patriots defense tied for the NFL lead with Miami, New Orleans and Pittsburgh with 18 interceptions.

The Patriots special teams units were strong all season. Jake Bailey's punting in 2020 allowed a total of 71 punt return yards on 12 returns. It marked the fewest punt return yards allowed by the Patriots in team history and the sixth-fewest punt return yards allowed in an NFL season. The 12 punt returns were second in NFL history, behind the 11 by the 2008 New England team.

The 2021 Patriots returned to the postseason following a 10-7 record and a second-place record in the AFC East that earned a Wild Card playoff position. The Patriots were led by rookie QB Mac Jones, who became one of just 12 rookie quarterbacks since 1970 to lead his team to a winning record. The Patriots defense finished fourth in the NFL and second in points allowed with just 17.8 points allowed per game, while the rushing attack finished eighth in the NFL. Belichick tied Don Shula for the most postseason berths by a head coach with his 19th postseason berth overall. He has now led his teams to 21 winning seasons, behind only George Halas (34), Don Shula (27) and Curly Lambeau (27).

Following a 2-4 start, the Patriots went on a seven-game winning streak to improve to a 9-4 record. The winning streak included wins against the top-seeded Tennessee Titans and a 14-10 win at Buffalo behind a 222-yard rushing performance.

Belichick's recent accomplishments are the latest triumphs in an NFL coaching career that began in 1975, during which he has helped produce eight Super Bowl titles, 12 conference championships and 24 division titles. Now in his 49th season in the NFL, he has more years of NFL experience than any of the other 31 active head coaches. He won his first two Super Bowls as the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants in 1986 and again in 1990 before claiming six Super Bowl championships with the Patriots.

A COACHING JOURNEY

Belichick began his coaching career after graduating from Wesleyan University and accepting a staff assistant position with the Baltimore Colts in 1975. At the age of 23, he was named special assistant to Head Coach Ted Marchibroda. In 1976, Belichick joined Rick Forzano's staff with the Detroit Lions as an assistant special teams coach. The following year, he was given his first positional coaching assignment as the Lions tight ends and receivers coach. In 1978, Denver Broncos Head Coach Red Miller hired Belichick as the assistant special teams coach and assistant to defensive coordinator Joe Collier.

Belichick then spent 12 seasons with the New York Giants (1979-90) before becoming head coach of the Cleveland Browns (1991-95). He later joined Bill Parcells for several seasons as assistant head coach/secondary with New England (1996) and assistant head coach/secondary with the N.Y. Jets (1997-99) before returning to Foxborough.

Belichick returned to the Patriots as head coach after three seasons with the New York Jets as the team's assistant head coach/secondary coach, holding the responsibility of calling the team's defensive plays. In 1998, the Jets surrendered just 266 points, propelling the team to its first division title. After finishing the regular season with a franchise-best 12-4 overall record, the Jets advanced to the AFC Championship Game. In his first season with the Jets in 1997, Belichick's defense surrendered just 287 points, an average of 17.9 points per game, marking a significant 10.5-point per-game improvement from 1996.

NEW YORK GIANTS (1979-90)

In 1979, Belichick joined Ray Perkins' staff with the New York Giants as a defensive assistant and special teams coach, launching a 12-year tenure with the Giants. After the 1980 campaign, he drew the added responsibility of coaching the Giants linebackers. In 1983, he began coordinating the defense on Bill Parcells' staff and continued coaching the linebackers, a unit that would become known as one of the most dominant groups of all-time, featuring Pro Football Hall of Famers Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson. He was officially appointed defensive coordinator in 1985, a position he held for the next six seasons. During his time as the Giants' defensive signal caller, his units were never ranked lower than 11th in the NFL and finished as high as second in the league three times, including the Super Bowl seasons of 1986 and 1990. His contributions with the Giants throughout the 1980s brought him national recognition as one of the best young assistant coaches in the NFL.

CLEVELAND BROWNS (1991-95)

Prior to joining the Patriots as an assistant, Belichick spent five seasons (1991-95) rebuilding the Cleveland Browns, whose 3-13 finish the year prior to his arrival was, up until that point, the worst in the history of the franchise. By 1994, the Browns were again one of NFL's best teams, boasting the second-best record in the AFC. Belichick's first head coaching opportunity came following the 1990 season, when his defensive efforts with the New York Giants helped claim a second Super Bowl title in five years. At the age of 38, he became the NFL's youngest head coach. In his first season, Belichick began the rebuilding process by restoring the foundation of the aging squad he inherited. In 1991, the Browns improved to 6-10 and played in 11 games that were decided by a touchdown or less.

Following back-to-back 7-9 campaigns in 1992 and 1993, the Browns improved to 11-5 in 1994, a mark that is still tied for the second highest victory total in the 64-year history of the Browns franchise. The 1994 squad was defined by its defense, which allowed a league-low 204 points. In their return to the playoffs, the Browns defeated the Patriots, 20-13, in a first-round Wild Card game on New Year's Day 1995.

The 1995 season was disrupted by the mid-season announcement that the Cleveland Browns franchise would be moved to Baltimore at the conclusion of the campaign. The announcement caused an undeniable mid-season distraction contributing to a 5-11 finish. Belichick did not accompany the franchise's move to Baltimore after the 1995 season.

AN ASSISTANT WITH THE PATRIOTS

Patriots fans witnessed Belichick's impact on a team firsthand in 1996 when he joined the Patriots after five seasons as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns. That year, the Patriots claimed their first division title in 10 years with an 11-5 record and won their first two playoff games at Foxboro Stadium to advance to Super Bowl XXXI. The 1996 Patriots defense allowed just 19.6 points per game and forced 34 turnovers, second in the AFC. In two playoff games, the defense allowed just nine points combined, propelling the Patriots to a berth in Super Bowl XXXI against Green Bay.

PHILANTHROPY

Throughout his career, Coach Belichick has been active in a wide array of charitable endeavors in New England, New York, Cleveland and beyond.

Coach Belichick has been involved in the establishment of scholarship programs in New England, Maryland and Ohio. In 2013, he launched the Bill Belichick Foundation, a nonprofit organization created to provide coaching, mentorship and financial assistance to individuals, communities and organizations with a focus on the sports of football and lacrosse. The foundation has seen results of its work all over the globe. The program "Fields of Growth" was awarded a grant in 2014 via the foundation to build a lacrosse field in Uganda, and the group decided to name it in honor of the coach. Belichick has also supported and participated in events to aid Wesleyan University, his alma mater, which established a full, four-year scholarship for incoming students named the Belichick Scholarship. Additionally, he has presented the Steve Belichick Award in conjunction with the Annapolis Touchdown Club. The award, presented in the name of Coach Belichick's late father, a longtime Naval Academy assistant coach, honors an Annapolis resident deeply involved in sports without seeking a spotlight for their achievements.

Upon returning to New England in 2000, Belichick established an annual scholarship recognizing an outstanding student athlete at Annapolis High School.

Coach Belichick has dedicated his time to sharing his vast experience and insight with high school coaches, many of whom are building their own coaching careers and are shaping the next generation of football players. In 2013, Belichick served as a guest speaker at the Notre Dame coaches clinic. In 2010, Belichick was the keynote speaker at Rutgers University's coaching clinic. In 2009, he addressed more than 500 Florida high school coaches at the Florida Gators Coaching Clinic. In previous years, Belichick has also addressed high school coaches at USA Football's New England Coaching Camp and has spoken with Alabama high school coaches at the Alabama Coaching Clinic. Coach Belichick was also a keynote speaker at the Frank McGuire Foundation's coaching seminar, addressing 600 New York-area high school coaches.

Coach Belichick has also lent his support to numerous foundations and fundraisers. He participated in the Samsung's Four Seasons of Hope annual fundraising gala, where he introduced longtime friend Jon Bon Jovi to a list of honorees that included Joe Torre, Arnold Palmer, Magic Johnson and Boomer Esiason. The star-studded affair raised over $500,000 to aid children and families in need. He was honored by Roxbury Comprehensive Community Center (RoxComp) and presented with the "Healthy Living Award." He is also a supporter of Hall of Famer Jim Brown's Amer-I-Can Foundation and has made speeches and appearances for Brown's foundation. He also aids Hannah and Friends, a foundation founded by long-time colleague Charlie Weis to benefit individuals with special needs.

In 2010 Coach Belichick supported a charity called Friends of Jaclyn, an organization that helps children with cancerous brain tumors be "adopted" by teams of all levels. He served as co-chair of a gala event in Boston that raised awareness for this cause.

Since becoming the Patriots head coach, Coach Belichick has participated in dozens of community events in New England, including the Best Buddies Challenge, the March of Dimes Walk America, the Rodman Ride for Kids, RoxComp's Reading is the Best Medicine Program and the Mayors Cup Regatta on the Charles River to benefit AccesSportAmerica, a charity dedicated to the fitness of children and adults with disabilities. He is a supporter of the Pawtucket Police Athletic League. He has also participated in several events benefiting the Lazarus House, a non-profit charity serving the homeless of Merrimack Valley.

While in Cleveland, the Belichick family launched a charitable foundation benefiting the Zelma George Home, a shelter for homeless women and children. The Belichicks also established an annual scholarship awarded to an Annapolis High School senior for academic and athletic achievement.

ACADEMICS

Coach Belichick has received prestigious awards from two alma maters: Wesleyan University and Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts. At Wesleyan's commencement in 2002, Coach Belichick received the prestigious Baldwin Medal, awarded annually by the Wesleyan University Alumni Association. It recognizes outstanding contributions to public interest and to the university. In 2005, he received a Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Wesleyan. He was inducted into the Wesleyan University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. He is proud to remain close to his Phillips Academy roots, where he was bestowed the Distinguished Alumni Award in 1987 and the Distinguished Service Award in 2008. He was also honored at Phillips Academy when the school declared a day in his honor in 2002. Additionally, Belichick was among the 2011 inductees for Phillips Andover Academy's Athletics Hall of Honor.

Coach Belichick has enjoyed several annual offseason visits to New England schools to interact with students. His speaking engagements included visits to Southern Connecticut State University, Boston College, Wesleyan, Brown University, Salem State College, Phillips Andover Academy and a panel discussion on sports at the Fenn School's Alumni Dinner. He was a guest speaker at the 2006 NCAA Lacrosse All-American banquet held at the Final Four in Philadelphia and at the 2008 NCAA Lacrosse Championship Banquet at Gillette Stadium. In 2004, he received honorary doctorates at Boston University and the New England Institute of Technology, where he also delivered the commencement address to over 900 graduates. In 2008, he addressed a group of 100 Foxborough-area middle school students and hosted them at a screening of the movie "The Express." Coach Belichick also delivered the commencement address at Suffield Academy in 2011.

PLAYING

Belichick lettered in football, lacrosse and squash while attending college at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn. He earned three letters in football while competing at center and tight end. As a senior, he was named captain of his lacrosse team. He was inducted into the Wesleyan University Athletics Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class in 2008.

EDUCATION OF A COACH

In 2005, legendary author and historian David Halberstam wrote The Education of a Coach, a book which chronicled Bill Belichick's life and career in football.

PERSONAL

Bill Belichick was born April 16, 1952, in Nashville, Tennessee, and raised in Annapolis, Maryland. His father, Steve, played fullback for the Detroit Lions in 1941 and coached for 33 years at the Naval Academy. Bill was a standout prep athlete at Annapolis High, where he has since been inducted into the school's hall of fame. In 2020, Belichick became the first recipient of the key to the city of Annapolis. He attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, before enrolling at Wesleyan, where he earned his bachelor's degree in economics in 1975. In 2018, Belichick was one of six people appointed to the President's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition, a committee that engages, educates and empowers all Americans to adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes regular physical activity and good nutrition.

In 2019, Belichick joined Chuck Noll (1970s-80s) as the only other coach in NFL history to be selected to two NFL All-Decade teams. Last year he was also featured as a regular co-host on NFL Network's "NFL 100 All-Time Team" series showcasing the 100 greatest players in league history. For his part in the series, Belichick was nominated for a Sports Emmy for Outstanding Sports Personality - Studio Analyst.

He was also a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's centennial blue-ribbon panel that helped construct 2020's Hall of Fame class that includes 10 senior nominees, five modern era nominees, three contributors and two coaches. Belichick was also honored in a pregame ceremony at Super Bowl LIV honoring the NFL 100 team that also featured Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Randy Moss, Adam Vinatieri, John Hannah and Mike Haynes.

Belichick was also awarded a "game ball" from the Fritz Pollard Alliance in 2019, acknowledging his efforts in creating coaching opportunities for minorities.

In 2020, Belichick was honored by the lacrosse community as he was named the winner of Spirit of Tewaaraton Award. The award is presented to an individual who has contributed to the sport of lacrosse in a way that reflects the spirit of the values and mission of the Tewaaraton Award.

EXTRA POINTS

Belichick spent 20 years as an assistant coach in the NFL and 2023 marks his 29th season as a head coach. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he is the only man in NFL history to serve 20 or more seasons as an assistant coach and at least 20 seasons as a head coach.
Belichick's Patriots teams own the all-time NFL records for consecutive total victories, including postseason games (21 from 2003-04), and consecutive playoff victories (10 from 2001-05).
Belichick's career winning percentage of .666 (329-165) is the second-highest all-time among head coaches with 150 or more wins.
In 2007, Belichick led the Patriots to the NFL's first 16-0 regular season and joined George Halas and Don Shula as the only coaches in NFL history to direct their teams to an undefeated regular season.
Belichick is the only head coach in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in four seasons (2001, 2003, 2004).
With 49 years of NFL coaching experience, Belichick is the longest tenured coach among active NFL head coaches. His 49 consecutive years as an NFL coach entering 2022 are the most in NFL history. Dick LeBeau, who coached 45 straight years through 2017 is second.
The 2018 AFC Championship victory was Belichick's ninth conference championship win as a head coach. His nine conference titles are the most in NFL history during the Super Bowl era, besting Don Shula's six.
Three former assistants on Belichick's staffs and one former player are head coaches in the NFL or college in 2023: Kirk Ferentz, Iowa; Josh McDaniels, Las Vegas; Nick Saban, Alabama; Mike Vrabel, Tennessee Titans. Four of Coach Belichick's former assistants are NFL general managers in 2023: Nick Caserio, Houston; Jason Licht, Tampa Bay, Monte Ossenfort, Arizona and Dave Ziegler, Las Vegas.
Belichick is the only head coach in NFL history to win at least 14 regular-season games in five separate seasons.
Belichick is the first head coach in NFL history with 17 straight seasons with at least 10 victories. George Seifert is second with eight (1989-96).

THE BELICHICK LIBRARY

Coach Belichick is an avid collector of football-related books, and along with his late father, Steve, amassed a library of more than 800 volumes. The library is believed to be one of the largest collection of football books in the world, behind the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Library of Congress. In 2006, Coach Belichick moved his entire library to the Naval Academy, where his father coached for 33 years. The books are housed in a display at Ricketts Hall in Annapolis for future generations of football players, coaches and fans to enjoy.

HONORS & AWARDS

Coach Belichick has earned NFL Coach of the Year honors from the Associated Press three times (2003, 2007 and 2010) and has finished in the top five in AP voting for NFL Coach of the Year Award eight other times (1994, 2001, 02, 04, 05, 08, 14 and 21). Below is a sampling of the recognition he has earned since 2001:

2021 NFL Honors