Bill Belichick of New England Patriots looking on.
Bill Belichick (Photo by JOSEPH PREZIOSO/AFP via Getty Images)Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick shared a thoughtful message following the passing of longtime Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Joe Collier.OnTuesday, the Broncos announced that Joe Collier had passed away at the age of 91 in his home in Littleton, Colorado. Bill Belichick was one of the many other legendary coaches who had the fortune of working with Collier, whose NFL coaching career

spanned over three decades.In a statement shared on the Broncos’ official website, Belichick offered a heartfelt tribute to the longtime NFL coach:“I was saddened to learn of the passing of Joe Collier. The year I spent with the Broncos in 1978 as Joe’s

assistant was an incredible experience and opportunity to learn from one of the greatest minds to ever coach in the NFL.”

“He took the time to educate and enlighten me on his preparation for game planning and play calling. I learned to see the game through the eyes of Coach Collier and will always cherish the professional and personal relationship we had. My sincerest condolences to his children and the entire family.”

Before joining the New York Giants in 1979, Belichick spent one year with the Broncos as a defensive assistant and assistant special teams coordinator. Denver won the AFC West that year with a 10-6 record, thanks to Collier’s stingy defense that allowed the second-fewest points (12.4 per game).

Collier was an assistant coach at Western Michigan from 1957 to 1959 before jumping to the NFL, where he served as an assistant on the Boston Patriots’ (now New England Patriots) staff.

After two years there, Collier became the Buffalo Bills’ linebackers and defensive backs coach in 1962. The Bills won two AFL Championships (1964 and ’65) in that period before Collier took over as their head coach in 1966.

Collier was Buffalo’s coach for three years before joining the Broncos’ organization in 1969. He would stay there until 1988, and the team reached three Super Bowls during his run as their defensive coordinator. Collier finished out his coaching career as the Patriots’ DC for two years (1992 to ’93).

One Of Many Great Coaches Bill Belichick Learned From

There’s no shortage of all-time great coaches whom Belichick got to learn from before he became a legend himself in the Giants’ and Patriots’ organizations.

Belichick got to learn from the likes of Collier, Ray Perkins (Giants), Bill Parcells (Giants) and Ted Marchibroda (Baltimore Colts) before he built his legacy as the NFL’s greatest head coach ever with the Patriots.

VIDEO: Julian Edelman Reveals How Awkward Things Were Between Bill Belichick And Robert Kraft At Tom Brady’s Netflix Roast

Bill Belichick, Kevin Hart, Robert Kraft at Tom Brady Roast. Julian Edelman on podcast.

Bill Belichick, Kevin Hart, Robert Kraft. Julian Edelman (Photos via Getty Images and @LosTalksPats/Twitter)A lot of New England Patriots fans were thrilled to see their favorite players together during Tom Brady’s Netflix roast.According to Julian Edelman and Drew Bledsoe, there was “real” animosity between Bill Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft prior to the Netflix special.In the “Games with Names” podcast, which was published on Tuesday, the two former Patriots discussed their experiences at the event. They went into detail about some tense situations that occurred backstage prior to the roast of Tom Brady.Edelman claimed that as he, Bledsoe, and a few other players were speaking with Bill Belichick, the Patriots owner, Robert Kraft, happened to stroll in.

According to Bledsoe, Belichick and Kraft ultimately had a ten-minute talk, although Edelman said, “The tension in that room, though, could cut f–king glass.”

“It was very real, it was very real,” Bledsoe replied via The NY Post. “Belichick’s kind of holding court. While he’s in the middle of this story, Kraft walks in, and you guys all go over to say hi to Kraft. The last man standing, to hear him tell it, is my bro. He’s like, ‘Well, Bill’s telling this story if I leave, then he’s telling the story to nobody because everybody is saying hi to Kraft.’”

 

According to Edelman, he attempted to alert Belichick that Kraft was going to enter the room carrying some “locker room s–t,” but it was ineffective.

“Of course [Belichick] didn’t f–king see it,” Edelman said. “[Kraft] didn’t see it, and I was like, ‘Oh s–t, this is going to be some fireworks,’ I just walked away. I didn’t want to be in there.”

Belichick, Kraft, and Tom Brady had great success together throughout Belichick’s twenty-four years in New England, winning six Super Bowls.

After leading the Patriots to six Super Bowl victories in 24 seasons, the team went 4-13 and finished in last place in the AFC East. Belichick was not rehired as head coach.

The team never recovered after Tom Brady took his talents to the Tampa Bay Bucs. And tensions only grew stronger when he won a Super Bowl in his first season there.

Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft Bury The Hatchet On Stage During Tom Brady’s Roast

Bill Belichick, Robert Kraft , Kevin Hart (Photo via Themirror)Robert Kraft was in the crowd, watching Belichick perform on stage during the Tom Brady roast. Following Kraft’s brief remarks about Brady, host Kevin Hart urged Belichick and Kraft to take a shot with each other to put an end to their animosity.Making his way to the platform, Kraft shared a toast with Belichick. He also expressed his belief that Belichick is the best football coach in history.

A highlight of the entire roast was when Hart said that he had resolved a quarrel bigger than the one involving rappers Drake and Kendrick Lamar.