Rare Photos of Bill Belichick

SI Staff | Sep 15, 2011

Rare Photos of Bill Belichick /

Rare Photos of Bill Belichick

Bill Belichick

Bill Belichick, who is among the nation's top football coaches, has been a part of the NFL since joining Ted Marchibroda as a $25-a-week assistant with the Baltimore Colts in 1975. Here are some rare photos of the Patriots coach.

Bill Belichick

Belichick was born in Nashville in 1952 and grew up in Annapolis, Md., where his father, Steve, was an assistant football coach at the United States Naval Academy. Before coaching at Navy, Steve played briefly for the Detroit Lions.

Bill Belichick and Parents

As the son of a football coach, Belichick was analyzing game film by age 10 and showed a natural inclination for the game. Here he poses with his parents, Steve and Jeanette.

Bill Belichick and Ernie Adams

After graduating from Annapolis High, Belichick attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass., for a postgraduate year. At Phillips, he struck up a friendship with Ernie Adams, who recognized Belichick's name after reading Steve Belichick's book Football Scouting Methods.

Wesleyan University Football Team

After a year at Phillips, Belichick enrolled at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn. He lined up at center and tight end for the football team and also played lacrosse and squash.

Harry Carson, Lawrence Taylor and Bill Belichick

Like most young coaches, Belichick moved around in his early years. After a year with Marchibroda's Colts, he spent two seasons with the Lions as a special teams assistant and later as a wide receivers coach. In 1978, he moved to Denver and became the assistant special teams coach before moving to the Giants the following season. From 1980 to '84, he served as the Giants defensive assistant and special teams coach. In 1983, Bill Parcells took over as head coach of the Giants and in 1985 named Belichick his defensive coordinator. Belichick helped the Giants win Super Bowls in 1986 and 1990.

Bill Belichick

From 1991 to 1995, Belichick was the head coach of the Cleveland Browns. Though he compiled a respectable 31-33 record in his first four seasons, including a playoff victory in 1994, many fans were disenchanted with Belichick's cold demeanor. He also made the controversial move of benching and then cutting Bernie Kosar and replacing him with Vinny Testaverde.

Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick

In 1995, Belichick's Browns finished a disappointing 5-11, however that was the least of the team's issues. In November of that year, owner Art Modell announced he would move the team to Baltimore after the season, leaving Cleveland fans disenchanted. Belichick resigned when the season ended. He joined longtime mentor Bill Parcells in New England the following season.

Bill Belichick and Marcus Coleman

In 1997, after a season serving as assistant head coach and defensive backs coach in New England, Belichick joined Parcells as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for the Jets. The coach demonstrated the art of tackling to free safety Marcus Coleman during the opening day of training camp.

Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick and Bryan Cox

Belichick talks with Jets linebacker Bryan Cox during a game against the Colts. After Parcells resigned as Jets head coach following the 1999 season, Belichick was slated to take over. He spent just one day as head coach of the Jets, famously resigning with a handwritten note that said, "I resign as HC of the NYJ."

Bill Belichick

Soon after resigning from the Jets, Belichick joined the Patriots as their new head coach. The Jets were given a first-round draft pick from the Patriots in exchange for the right to hire Belichick. It was a small price to pay as the new coach led the Patriots to the Super Bowl in his second season.

Bill Belichick and Troy Brown

Belichick celebrates with receiver Troy Brown after a December 2001 victory over the Jets. Few players represented Belichick's coaching philosophy better than the versatile Brown, who not only played offense and special teams, but also filled in at defensive back for the injury-riddled Patriots in 2004 and went on to make three interceptions.

Drew Bledsoe and Bill Belichick

One of Belichick's most controversial and successful moves was replacing longtime starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe with then-unknown Tom Brady. Initially the move was viewed as temporary since Bledsoe suffered a collapsed long early in the 2001 season. But the team played well under Brady and when Bledsoe returned to health, Belichick announced he was keeping Brady as the starter. Bledsoe was traded to Buffalo the following season.

Bill and Steve Belichick

By 2003, Belichick's Patriots was among the NFL's top teams. They started the season with a 31-0 loss to the Bills before winning 14 of their remaining 15 games and three more in the playoffs to win their second Super Bowl in three years. Belichick was named Coach of the Year. The following season, the Patriots were champions again, becoming the second team to win three Super Bowls in four years. In this photo, father and son celebrate.

Bill Belichick and Jon Bon Jovi

While many feel Belichick is consumed by football, he does have a few famous friends, including rock star Jon Bon Jovi (and his son, Jesse).

Bill Belichick and Eric Mangini

In 2007, Belichick was at the center of controversy when former assistant coach Eric Mangini (right), in his first season as head coach of the Jets, tipped off league officials that New England was illegally filming signals. The incident, known as "Spygate," resulted in a $500,00 fine for Belichick, the highest ever given to a coach, and the Patriots were fined $250,000 and forced to give up a first-round draft pick.

Bill Belichick and Tom Coughlin

Spygate was the talk of the 2007 preseason, but once the regular season began, Belichick and the Patriots responded with the first 16-0 record. The Super Bowl, however, turned out to be a disappointment as the Patriots lost to the underdog Giants.

Tom Brady and Bill Belichick

Belichick talks with Tom Brady, the 199th pick in the 2000 draft. The Michigan alum led the Patriots to three Super Bowl titles and is considered one of the NFL's all-time top quarterbacks.

Bill Belichick and Drew Brees

Belichick shares a few words with Saints quarterback Drew Brees after a game against New Orleans.

Bill Belichick, Jim Nantz, Tom Brady and Phil Simms

Belichick talks with former Giants quarterback Phil Simms and CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz as Tom Brady and others look on.

Bill Belichick and AFC Pro Bowlers

Belichick (center) talks to Cleveland Browns center Alex Mack (73), New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker (83) and other Pro Bowl players at Aloha Stadium.

Bill Belichick

Belichick relaxes with a round of golf at the 2011 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Even off the field, the coach wears his trademark cut-off sleeves.

Published Sep 15, 2011

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