Bill Belichick is considered one of the greatest head coaches of all time. However, some analysts have called him a hypocrite for accepting at least three high-level gigs on international networks after 20 years of a contentious relationship with the press while he was in charge of the New England Patriots.
Belichick’s career was full of achievements, including six Super Bowl rings, three Coach of the Year awards, and countless other accolades. His award-winning career came to an unexpected end in early 2024, when his contract with the Patriots expired without renewal and no other teams reached out to hire him.
Without a full-time job as a coach or executive, television networks began knocking on his door, and Belichick did not hesitate to answer. So far, Belichick has secured roles on the CW’s “Inside the NFL,” ESPN’s “Manningcast,” and “The Pat McAfee Show,” with more opportunities likely to come before the regular season begins.
While many celebrate the chance to enjoy Belichick’s undeniable wisdom as an analyst, others question how well he will fill the role.
8x Super Bowl champion coach Bill Belichick is joining Inside The NFL this season alongside @Realrclark25, @JOEL9ONE and @ochocinco. 🔥@insidetheNFL returns August 30 at 9pm ET on the CW
pic.twitter.com/WdYF9mt11K— NFL (@NFL) July 11, 2024
Bill Belichick vs. the media
In an op-ed for Athlon Sports, commentator and radio personality Andrew Perloff scrutinized Belichick’s new role as an NFL analyst.
Perloff first recalled the press conference before Super Bowl XLIX, where the veteran coach answered every question with the phrase “We’re on to Cincinnati.” The analyst questioned Belichick’s motives, suggesting that if his goal was to motivate his players, it was unnecessary to involve the press in that manner.
Perloff also pointed out that Belichick never does something without a purpose. He speculated that the former coach might use his new platform to land a job with a team. “If he rips a coach, how do we know he’s not angling for that coach’s job? If he praises a quarterback, is that because he wants to join him next season?”Perloff questioned.
Bill Belichick will be a permanent guest on the ManningCast, per @PatMcAfeeShow
pic.twitter.com/wMj68uB4sy— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) May 11, 2024
Belichick’s unfinished business
Perloff highlighted several unresolved issues Belichick has with both the press and the fans. Among them, he mentioned the Malcolm Butler situation in Super Bowl LII, and the role of Belichick’s equipment manager in the infamous “DeflateGate.”
MORE in MARCA
Video of Virginia Democratic candidate performing live sex act with husband in exchange for money leaks | MarcaMarca
Jennifer Lopez advised to switch to country music amid divorce rumors | MarcaMarca
He also reaclled the “SpyGate” scandal, Aaron Hernandez’s troubled past, the suspicious headsets failures of rival teams at Gillette Stadium, his silence after Brady’s Super Bowl win with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the end of his relationships with Brady and Robert Kraft, owner of the Patriots.
Perloff suggested that Belichick has a long history of “dismissing” the press and questioned how honest he could be in his new role. Finally, he compared Belichick to the ultimate example of a coach-turned-analyst, John Madden. “Belichick is closer to a tobacco executive trying to hide something on ’60 Minutes’ than to Madden after his late afternoon game ended,” he concluded.
