
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick had one of the shortest tenures as an NFL head coach.
After succeeding Bill Parcells as the New York Jets’ main mentor, he resigned one day into the job.
Soon after, he joined the Patriots in 2000 and has been the team’s head coach since.
During his tenure in New England, the team has won six Super Bowls.
He also earned three Coach of the Year awards and became part of the league’s 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
The 2022 season will be his 23rd at the helm in Foxborough, putting him six behind Tom Landry and Curly Lambeau.
But while the end to his tenure is not yet in sight, he has already broken a previous claim, as NFL on CBS shared.
"I won't be like Marv Levy and coaching in my 70s; you won't have to worry about that."
– Bill Belichick to @NFLFilms in January 2010
Note: Bill Belichick turned 70 this past weekend pic.twitter.com/xD6Uu8ntBi
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) April 18, 2022
They quoted Belichick saying to NFL Films in January 2010 that: “I won’t be like Marv Levy and coaching in my 70s; you won’t have to worry about that.”
However, he turned 70 years old three days ago, making this claim obsolete.
Levy coached the Buffalo Bills until he was 72 years old, for comparison’s sake.
At age 81, he became the team’s general manager.
But Belichick is in a more impressive run because he’s serving as New England’s head coach and general manager at once.
Director of Player Personnel Matt Groh helps him assess their squad, but Belichick still has the final say regarding roster decisions and draft picks.
Belichick To Stay For A While
Belichick will easily surpass Levy’s age as head coach because the Patriots remain competitive in the AFC.
They may not be the top team for now, but they are building something special around quarterback Mac Jones.
Last season, the Patriots also went on a free agency splurge, adding Matthew Judon, Kendrick Bourne, Hunter Henry, Jonnu Smith, and Nelson Agholor to their roster.
This offseason, they brought in running back Ty Montgomery, linebacker Mack Wilson, cornerback Terrance Mitchell, wide receiver Davante Parker, and safety Jabrill Peppers.
Belichick will continue to mentor the Patriots until he calls it quits, which may not be for a couple of seasons.