Brian Belichick reveals why he stayed with Patriots after team mutually parted ways with Bill Belichick
FOXBOROUGH, Mass – For Brian Belichick, this offseason was difficult and it would have made a lot of sense for him not to return to the New England Patriots. He first had to watch the team mutually part ways with his father, Bill Belichick, after 24 seasons. And then his older brother, Steve Belichick, left […]
FOXBOROUGH, Mass – For Brian Belichick, this offseason was difficult and it would have made a lot of sense for him not to return to the New England Patriots.
He first had to watch the team mutually part ways with his father, Bill Belichick, after 24 seasons. And then his older brother, Steve Belichick, left to become the defensive coordinator at the University of Washington.
Despite Belichick leaving, both Brian and Steve were offered jobs from new head coach Jerod Mayo. And while Steve left, the safeties coach took him up on that offer.
Mayo had high praise for Brian prior to Wednesday's OTAs, saying that despite it being such a tough situation, Brian has handled it "the right way."
“He’s been fantastic,” Mayo said. “He’s been fantastic, and there’s other guys in the organization that it’s been a little awkward for them and they’ve handled it the right way. Brian loves football and he loves New England. He’s got a new baby, loves it up here, wants to stay, and we’re happy he’s here.”
And for Brian, he provided some context on his ultimate decision to stick around.
“I was thankful and happy to get the opportunity to coach here and was thankful and happy to take advantage of it and take (Mayo) up on it,” he told reporters. “I have a lot of gratitude in my life right now with my daughter, my job, being here, living in this area. I love it. I just hope I can contribute to help us be the best team we can this year.”
He first joined the staff in 2016 as a scouting assistant, but moved through the ranks and was promoted to safeties coach in 2020.
“I have the opportunity to coach a position in the National Football League. How much more can you ask for than that?” Brian said. “It’s been awesome. A place that we just had our daughter and living around here, trying to take it day by day both at home and at work. Trying to be the best we can – the best parents and best coach in the building I can. That’s my focus.”
As for how it's been not working with his father, Brian had a very interesting comment about that.
“This is getting a little personal about our family dynamics, but in a way, I think it was good for us to have some separation from being in a football building every day, seeing each other,” Brian added. “Whereas now, we’re not just connected by football. Not that it was that way before, but we talk about other things because we’re in different places and not the same place every day. There’s a lot to talk about football-wise, so it was hard not to get caught up with that when you saw each other at work every day.”
