Bill Belichick Opens Up On Sons’ Unique Knowledge of Patriots Program

Doubters didn’t like the idea of seeing head coach Bill Belichick add both of his sons to the Patriots coaching staff. A group of people showed their frustrations with the Patriots head coach, accusing him of nepotism. The same thing happened when Brian Belichick became Patriots safeties coach this summer. Brian took over the role from his older brother, Stephen, who is now coaching outside linebackers. If you ask Bill Belichick, he will say that his sons know the Patriots program really well.

Brian is in his late-20s. He has been a coaching assistant for three seasons. He also spent a year as a scouting assistant. Well, we don’t even count the time Brian spent on the Patriots sidelines, watching his father do magic. He was half the age of the players Belichick coached.

Reporters could notice Brian on the Patriots sideline during Belichick’s first decade as a head coach. He provided an extra set of hands on the sideline. He used to chart plays for passers and track information for the Patriots defense. Brian handed out tablets to players and he was always involved.

“Getting to experience being on the sideline of an NFL game is a lot different than the perspective of seeing it on TV,” Brian said Friday in a video conference call. “Things happen really fast down there. Just being able to get used to the speed of the players and how quickly they process things. And I think it helped me a lot just to learn about what’s really going on out there, not just standing behind a glass screen and seeing it. The real football that’s going down out there on the field.”

Bill Belichick is impressed with the way his sons interpret the Patriots program

The Patriots head coach made an admission Friday. According to him, his sons have a different understanding of the Patriots’ program than anyone else on the football staff.

“They’ve seen things done from a different perspective than other people,” Bill Belichick said. “But in the end, I don’t know anybody that knows our football program better than Stephen, who’s been in it a little bit longer, but Brian as well. They’ve just lived their whole life with this program. So all the things that we do, for all the different reasons and how it all ties together and so forth, they have a very good understanding of all the things that are involved and how it all is interwoven. 

“And that’s valuable to me because they have a perspective of that. We have a lot of good coaches on our staff, I’m not saying that. Those guys are very, very good coaches and very proficient and they do a great job. But it’s a little different to see it from the perspective that Brian has seen it from, or Steve. They all help, they’re all valuable and I’m glad we have them.”

Patriots cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino knows that Belichick’s sons have a lot of experience. They have spent years on the Patriots sidelines and their knowledge is impressive.

Brian is entering his fifth year with the Patriots. Stephen is having his ninth. Brian is 14 years deep into offering help to the coaching staff. He has learned so much from his father.

The Patriots head coach said his sons have been around a lot of football. In other words, they know a lot about the game.