Steve Belichick enters his third season working with the linebackers following four seasons coaching in the secondary and four years as a coaching assistant.
In 2019, Belichick led a secondary as part of a defense that finished No. 1 in the NFL in total defense (275.9 yards per game) and scoring (14.1 points allowed per game). Additionally, CB Stephon Gilmore turned in a career season, becoming the first Patriot to win Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year after finishing with a career-high six interceptions and his second straight year with 20 passes defensed, joining Ty Law (1998 & 2003) as the only Patriots with two seasons of 20-plus passes defensed. Gilmore also earned AFC Defensive Player of the Month for October and safety Devin McCourty was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month for September after he intercepted a pass in each of the first four games of the season.
Under his guidance in 2018, the Patriots safeties were part of a defense that held the L.A. Rams to a Super Bowl record-tying low three points en route to a victory in Super Bowl LIII. Duron Harmon also duplicated his performance from the previous season by leading the team and tying a career-high with four interceptions. In 2017, the Patriots safeties played a critical role within a unit that finished fifth in the NFL by allowing 18.5 points per game. Devin McCourty was also selected to his fourth career Pro Bowl under Belichick's instruction.
After playing four years of lacrosse at Rutgers, Belichick walked on to the football team as a long snapper to help in preparations for a career in coaching. He was a three-year starter at linebacker, tight end and fullback as well as a long snapper at The Rivers School in Weston, Massachusetts, before heading to Rutgers.
