Charles Barkley Rushes to Bill Belichick’s Defense in Wake of Media Criticism

The NBA analyst said he is “disgusted” by the idea that the New England Patriots coach is on the hot seat.

Bill Belichick is entering a crucial season in 2023, as the Patriots haven’t won a playoff game in the past four seasons. Some observers even have suggested Belichick’s job could be in jeopardy if New England doesn’t make the playoffs this year.

However, Charles Barkley isn’t having any of it.

The Basketball Hall of Famer believes the media is being too hard on the Patriots coach. While appearing on The Bill Simmons Podcast last month, Barkley lamented how the media has talked about Belichick’s job status.

“I’m so disgusted with some of these punk a– guys on television talking about Bill being on the hot seat and things like that.” Barkley told Simmons. “It shouldn’t even be close to the hot seat.”

Barkley acknowledged that Belichick is “a good friend,” and he thinks the Patriots coach should be given a long leash based on his decades of success. Barkley called Belichick’s run of six Super Bowl wins “incredible.”

Belichick sits in third place among all NFL coaches with 298 career regular-season wins, just 30 wins behind Don Shula for the top spot, and Barkley hopes Belichick eventually passes Shula.

“I hope he gets the record. He deserves the record,” Barkley said.

For Belichick to pass Shula, he will probably will have to coach through at least 2025. For many reasons, Barkley thinks he should get the chance to break the record.