The Bill Belichick era came to an end on Thursday as the legendary NFL head coach parted ways with the New England Patriots after 24 years, during which time he won six Super Bowl rings as part of one of the greatest dynasties in league history.
Against all the odds and villainous portrayals, contrary to bleak expectations and gloomy projections… Bill Belichick once dressed as a pirate to a Randy Moss-led roller-skating Halloween party with the New England Patriots.
Not the odds-and-expectations-clobbering Super Bowl tale you were thinking of, huh? Not the evil genius master plan you were anticipating, huh?
With storied Belichickian philosophies come trademark Jekyll and Hyde-isms to the greatest head coach in NFL history, from whom rare jesting and joshing became a loveable contrast to the typical motionless exterior, icy media dealings, mumbling remarks and relentless scent for destruction on which his Patriots empire was built.
Only those that played and worked for him in Foxboro were afforded the best of both steely-eyed-killer Belichick and out-of-office Belichick, the consistency at which the ‘Patriots Way’ remained in-house – be it analysis, outlook, smiles or fallout – fuelling his side’s self-imposed detachment from the rest of the league on its rise to supremacy. And while Belichick sought to fortify an all-conquering private family environment like no other, he similarly had the unique ability to strip away sentiment when deciding it was time for players or his team to move on.
Over two decades he would become the most ruthless and successful winner to grace the NFL sidelines. After 24 years, six Super Bowl titles from nine Super Bowl appearances, nine AFC Championships and 17 AFC East division titles, the Belichick era is over in New England.
