Even though Bill Belichick will have a second life as a head coach in the coming weeks, his legacy is already intact. The rugged character must be considered one of the greatest head coaches in history. Or simply the best? Let's see…
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We don't yet know where Belichick will end up and how many years he will continue his merry-go-round, he who turns 72 in April.
The Atlanta Falcons, where many observers see him taking control of a talented roster but lacking a quarterback?
At the Los Angeles Chargers, where he would find the ideal young quarterback in Justin Herbert?
At the Washington Commanders, where he would join a new owner eager to restore credibility to the organization?
We'll certainly have a chance to talk about it again, but for now the existential question remains unanswered: Is Bill Belichick the best of all time?
Archive photo, AFP
Arguments for it
One thing is certain: his achievements will probably never be repeated. Six Super Bowl wins. Nine appearances in the ultimate match. A total of 333 wins, including 31 in the series, nine more than anyone else. A streak of 17 division titles in 19 years.
With any luck, he will soon dethrone Don Shula, the winningest trainer in history with 347 victories.
Those are the numbers, but the Belichick effect also made itself felt by elevating players in his defensive system to star status only for them to disappear elsewhere.
Arguments against
Archive photo, AFP
However, critics will point to an obvious flaw in Belichick's record, namely his failures outside of Tom Brady.
Before Brady came onto the scene, Belichick was 41-55 in just one playoff appearance. Then, when Brady used his clicks and slaps to punt in Tampa, Belichick sank again with a record of 29-37 and just one more playoff game.
It's probably fair to say that Brady has brought more to Belichick than the other way around. But should we conclude that without Brady, Belichick would be just an old mad defense scientist and nothing more? The reason would be simple.
During the 2001 Super Bowl, it was Belichick's defense that limited the Rams' best show on turf to 17 points, as well as scoring a touchdown on an interception return and causing three turnovers. The Brady-led offense only managed 13 points.
In the 2004 Super Bowl, the same Belichick defense forced four turnovers against the Eagles.
Also in the 2018 Super Bowl, the Patriots offense scored 13 points, but the defense saved the day by only allowing three points to the Rams.
While there's a recap: Brady was the most important piece of the puzzle to the Patriots' dynasty, to believe that Belichick was simply in the right place at the right time is pure nonsense.
In NFL history, all of the best coaches have benefited from good quarterbacks. Don Shula and Dan Marino. Bill Walsh and Joe Montana. Chuck Knoll and Terry Bradshaw. Tom Landry and Roger Staubach. Paul Brown and Otto Graham. Vince Lombardi and Bart Starr. Belichick was credited with finding Brady, training him and training him the hard way, forcing the rest of the team to march in lockstep.
And the answer is…
Even the more difficult last few years do not tarnish Belichick's legacy.
The other great coaches mentioned were all great innovators and left their mark on their era. However, Belichick's exploits were accomplished in a 32-team era in which rosters must be renewed every year due to the difficult vagaries of the free-agent market. Managing the salary cap makes things infinitely complicated.
Bill Belichick might as well blow it if he ends up in Atlanta or somewhere else. It is within the realm of possibility.
It won't change the fact that he's the best in history.