History of Bill Belichick in Timeline
Bill Belichick is widely considered one of the greatest football coaches in history. He holds the record for most Super Bowl wins as a head coach (six), all achieved with the New England Patriots. Adding to his accomplishments, he also secured two Super Bowl victories as the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants, totaling a record eight combined Super Bowl wins as coach and coordinator. Known as a 'student of the game,' Belichick is celebrated for his extensive understanding of football strategy and player positions. He was the head coach and de facto general manager of the Patriots during their dominant dynasty from 2001 to 2019.
1934: Chicago Bears Perfect Season
In 1934, the Chicago Bears had a perfect regular season. This fact is relevant in 2007, as it is one of the few teams in NFL history to have a perfect season before the Patriots.
1942: Chicago Bears Perfect Season
In 1942, the Chicago Bears had a perfect regular season. This fact is relevant in 2007, as it is one of the few teams in NFL history to have a perfect season before the Patriots.
1948: Cleveland Browns Perfect Season
In 1948, the Cleveland Browns had a perfect regular season. This fact is relevant in 2007, as it is one of the few teams in professional football to have recorded a perfect season.
April 16, 1952: Bill Belichick's Birth
On April 16, 1952, William Stephen Belichick was born. He is now a renowned American football coach.
1970: Graduated from Annapolis High School
In 1970, Bill Belichick graduated from Annapolis High School, where he played football and lacrosse.
1972: Miami Dolphins 18 Straight Victories
In 1972, the Miami Dolphins had 18 straight victories.
1972: Miami Dolphins Perfect Season
In 1972, the Miami Dolphins had a perfect regular season. This fact is relevant in 2007, as it is one of the few teams in NFL history to have a perfect season before the Patriots.
1973: Miami Dolphins 18 Straight Victories
In 1973, the Miami Dolphins had 18 straight victories.
1975: Graduated from Wesleyan University
In 1975, Bill Belichick earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Wesleyan University.
1975: Started Coaching Career
In 1975, Bill Belichick started his coaching career as an assistant for the Baltimore Colts.
1975: Assistant to Baltimore Colts Head Coach
In 1975, Bill Belichick took a $25-per-week job as an assistant to Baltimore Colts head coach Ted Marchibroda.
1976: Joined the Detroit Lions
In 1976, Bill Belichick joined the Detroit Lions as their assistant special teams coach.
1977: Added Coaching Duties with the Detroit Lions
In 1977, Bill Belichick added tight ends and wide receivers to his coaching duties with the Detroit Lions.
1977: Marriage to Debby Clarke
In 1977, Bill Belichick married Debby Clarke.
January 9, 1978: Dismissed from Detroit Lions
On January 9, 1978, Bill Belichick was dismissed from the Detroit Lions along with the head coach and the rest of the coaching staff.
1978: Introduction of the 16-game regular season
In 1978, the 16-game regular season schedule was introduced in the NFL. This made the Patriots perfect season in 2007, a notable accomplishment since only four teams in National Football League history have done so since the introduction of the 16-game regular season schedule.
1979: Began Stint with the New York Giants
In 1979, Bill Belichick began a 12-year stint with the New York Giants as a defensive assistant and special teams coach.
1980: Added Linebackers Coaching to Duties
In 1980, Bill Belichick added linebackers coaching to his duties with the New York Giants.
1983: Bill Parcels replaced Ray Perkins as Head Coach
In 1983, Bill Parcells replaced Ray Perkins as head coach of the NY Giants.
1985: Defensive Coordinator for the Giants
By 1985, Bill Belichick became the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants under head coach Bill Parcells.
1985: 1985 Denver Broncos Miss Playoffs
In 1985, the Denver Broncos were the only other 11-win team to miss the playoffs in a 16-game season. This is a comparison to the Patriots missing the playoffs in 2008, despite an 11-5 record.
1986: Won Super Bowl XXI with the Giants
Following the 1986 season, the New York Giants, with Bill Belichick as defensive coordinator, won Super Bowl XXI.
1990: Won Super Bowl XXV with the Giants
Following the 1990 season, the New York Giants, with Bill Belichick as defensive coordinator, won Super Bowl XXV.
1991: Became Head Coach of Cleveland Browns
In 1991, Bill Belichick became the head coach of the Cleveland Browns.
1992: Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Win
In 1992, the Dallas Cowboys started a stretch where they won three of four Super Bowls.
1993: Controversial Cutting of Bernie Kosar
Midway through the 1993 season, one of Bill Belichick's most controversial moves as head coach of the Browns was cutting quarterback Bernie Kosar.
1994: Led Browns to the Playoffs
In 1994, Bill Belichick led the Cleveland Browns to the playoffs, his only winning year with the team.
November 1995: Browns Announced Move to Baltimore
In November 1995, Browns owner Art Modell announced he would move the franchise to Baltimore after the season.
1995: Fired from Cleveland Browns
Following the 1995 season, Bill Belichick was fired as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns.
1995: Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl Win
In 1995, the Dallas Cowboys finished a stretch where they won three of four Super Bowls.
February 14, 1996: Fired by the Cleveland Browns
On February 14, 1996, Bill Belichick was fired by the Cleveland Browns.
1996: Assistant Coach with the New England Patriots
In 1996, Bill Belichick served as assistant head coach and defensive backs coach with the New England Patriots.
February 1997: Named Jets Interim Head Coach
In February 1997, Bill Belichick was named the Jets interim head coach.
1999: Parcells Stepped Down
In 1999, Bill Parcells stepped down as head coach.
January 4, 2000: Resigned as Jets Head Coach
On January 4, 2000, Bill Belichick resigned as head coach of the New York Jets.
January 27, 2000: Hired as Patriots Head Coach
On January 27, 2000, Bill Belichick accepted the head coaching job for the New England Patriots.
2000: Hired as Patriots Head Coach
In 2000, Bill Belichick was introduced as the Patriots' head coach.
2000: 5-11 Season
In 2000, the Patriots went 5-11 in the regular season and missed the playoffs.
2001: Start of Patriots Dynasty
In 2001, Bill Belichick became a central figure as the head coach and de facto general manager during the New England Patriots' dynasty.
2001: Won Super Bowl XXXVI
In 2001, the Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVI, marking the first Super Bowl championship in Patriots history with Bill Belichick as coach.
2002: Missed the Playoffs
In 2002, the Patriots went 9-7 and missed the playoffs.
2002: Playoff Drought Ends
Prior to 2008, the Patriots had not missed the playoffs since 2002. In 2008, the Patriots missed the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
2003: AP NFL Coach of the Year
In 2003, Bill Belichick was named the AP NFL Coach of the Year.
2003: Won Super Bowl XXXVIII
In 2003, the Patriots finished 14-2, won Super Bowl XXXVIII, and Bill Belichick was awarded the NFL Coach of the Year Award.
2003: Patriots win Divisional Title
In 2003, the Patriots won a divisional title, marking the beginning of a successful era under Belichick's leadership.
2004: Won Super Bowl XXXIX
In 2004, the Patriots finished with a 14-2 record, broke the record for most consecutive victories, and won Super Bowl XXXIX.
2005: Patriots 2005 Season
In 2005, with Eric Mangini as the new defensive coordinator and no named offensive coordinator, the Patriots finished the season with a 10–6 record. They defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Wild Card Round but lost to the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round.
2006: Patriots' Winning Streak
From 2006 to 2008, the Patriots won 21 regular season games in a row. In 2008, they broke their own record with this achievement.
2006: Divorce from Debby Clarke
In 2006, Bill Belichick and Debby Clarke divorced.
2006: Patriots 2006 Season
In 2006, the Patriots ended the season with a 12–4 record. They won against the New York Jets in the Wild Card Round and the San Diego Chargers in the Divisional Round, but they lost to the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship.
September 9, 2007: Spygate Incident
On September 9, 2007, the "Spygate" incident occurred when NFL security caught a Patriots video assistant taping the New York Jets' defensive signals from an unapproved location, leading to a formal complaint from the Jets.
2007: Coach of the Year Award
Following the Spygate incident and the Patriots' perfect 16-0 regular season, Belichick was awarded the 2007 NFL Coach of the Year Award by the Associated Press.
2007: Patriots Perfect Regular Season and Super Bowl Loss
In 2007, Belichick's Patriots achieved a perfect 16-0 regular season, the first since 1978. They defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars and the San Diego Chargers in the playoffs but were upset in Super Bowl XLII by the New York Giants, preventing a perfect season.
2007: Belichick on Relationship with Nick Saban
In 2007, Bill Belichick spoke about his friendship with Nick Saban, highlighting their shared Croatian heritage in the NFL.
2007: AP NFL Coach of the Year
In 2007, Bill Belichick was named the AP NFL Coach of the Year.
2007: Patriots win Divisional Title
In 2007, the Patriots won a divisional title, continuing their streak of consecutive titles from 2003.
2007: Relationship with Linda Holliday Begins
Starting in 2007, Belichick began a relationship with Linda Holliday, the executive director of the Bill Belichick Foundation.
2008: Scott Pioli Left for Chiefs
After the 2008 season, Scott Pioli left the Patriots for the Kansas City Chiefs.
2008: Brady's Injury and Playoff Miss
During the 2008 season, Tom Brady suffered a season-ending injury in Week 1. Despite setting a record for consecutive regular season wins (21), and achieving an 11-5 record, the Patriots missed the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
2008: NFL Fines and Penalties
In 2008, the NFL fined Belichick $500,000 and the Patriots $250,000, and the Patriots forfeited a first-round draft pick as a result of the "Spygate" incident. These were the largest fines ever imposed on a coach and team in the league's history.
2008: Inducted into Wesleyan University Athletics Hall of Fame
In spring 2008, Bill Belichick was part of the inaugural induction class into Wesleyan University's Athletics Hall of Fame.
2009: Belichick Assumed Full Control
In 2009, Bill Belichick assumed near-complete control over the team's football operations.
2009: Patriots win Divisional Title
In 2009, the Patriots won a divisional title, marking the start of an eleven-year streak of consecutive titles.
2009: AFC East Title and Wild Card Loss
In 2009, with Tom Brady's return, Belichick led the Patriots to an AFC East title with a 10-6 record. However, they lost to the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card Round.
2009: First season since 2009 with less than 12 wins
In 2018, the Patriots went 11-5. This marked the first time since 2009 that the Patriots had less than 12 wins.
2010: AP NFL Coach of the Year
In 2010, Bill Belichick was named the AP NFL Coach of the Year.
2010: Top Seed and Divisional Round Loss
In the 2010 season, Belichick and the Patriots achieved a 14–2 record and the top seed in the AFC. However, they were defeated by the New York Jets in the divisional round.
2011: Inducted into Phillips Academy Athletics Hall of Honor
In 2011, 40 years after attending, Phillips Academy honored Bill Belichick by inducting him into its Athletics Hall of Honor.
2011: AFC Championship and Super Bowl XLVI Loss
In 2011, the Patriots finished with a 13–3 record, won the AFC Championship against the Baltimore Ravens, and advanced to Super Bowl XLVI. However, they lost to the New York Giants in a Super Bowl XLII rematch.
September 26, 2012: Fine for Grabbing Official's Arm
On September 26, 2012, Belichick was fined $50,000 for grabbing a replacement official's arm after a controversial call in a game against the Baltimore Ravens.
2012: Sean Payton's Suspension
In 2012, Sean Payton, coach of the New Orleans Saints, was suspended for the entire season for covering up a bounty scheme. Before this suspension in 2012, the sanctions against Belichick were the harshest imposed on a head coach in league history.
2013: A Football Life episode on Cleveland Browns Relocation Controversy
In 2013, an episode of A Football Life on the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy stated that Belichick laid the groundwork for the Ravens success.
2013: 2013 Season
In 2013, the Patriots dealt with significant offensive changes and injuries but still finished with a 12-4 record. They won the AFC East and defeated the Indianapolis Colts in the Divisional Round before losing to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game.
2014: "We're on to Cincinnati"
In 2014, following a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Belichick famously said, "We're on to Cincinnati." The Patriots finished the season with a 12–4 record, won Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks. Belichick tied Chuck Noll for most Super Bowl wins by a head coach with his fourth.
July 2015: Daughter Amanda Becomes Head Lacrosse Coach
In July 2015, Belichick's daughter Amanda became the head women's lacrosse coach at the College of the Holy Cross.
2015: 2015 Season
In 2015, the Patriots had a 12-4 record. They defeated the Kansas City Chiefs in the Divisional Round but lost to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game.
2016: Super Bowl LI Victory
In 2016, the Patriots finished with a 14-2 record and won Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons after a historic comeback. Belichick secured his record fifth Super Bowl title as a head coach.
2017: Super Bowl LII Loss
In 2017, the Patriots went 13–3 and reached Super Bowl LII. They lost to the Philadelphia Eagles, 41–33. The latter Patriots teams were noted for mounting late comebacks in playoff games.
May 2018: Appointment to Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition
In May 2018, President Donald Trump appointed Belichick to be a member of his Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition.
2018: Super Bowl LIII Victory
In 2018, the Patriots finished 11–5 and won Super Bowl LIII against the Los Angeles Rams, marking Belichick's sixth Super Bowl championship as a head coach. The Patriots' defense held the high-scoring Rams offense to only 260 total yards.
May 13, 2019: Belichick Assumes Defensive Coordinator Role
On May 13, 2019, Belichick announced he would also serve as the Patriots' defensive coordinator starting in the 2019 season.
October 27, 2019: Belichick's 300th Win
On October 27, 2019, Belichick achieved his 300th win as a head coach, including both regular and postseason games, with the Patriots' victory over the Cleveland Browns.
2019: End of Patriots Dynasty
Bill Belichick's tenure as head coach and de facto general manager during the New England Patriots' dynasty came to an end in 2019.
2019: Analyst for NFL 100 All-Time Team Series
In 2019, Bill Belichick served as an analyst and voter for the NFL 100 All-Time Team series on NFL Network, providing insights and breaking down game film.
2019: Patriots win Divisional Title
In 2019, the Patriots won a divisional title, marking the end of an eleven-year streak of consecutive titles that began in 2009.
November 28, 2020: Poor Track Record of Belichick's Coaching Tree
As of November 28, 2020, former assistant coaches under Belichick had a combined losing record as head coaches of their own teams, with many being fired midseason.
2020: Nike the Alaskan Klee Kai
In 2020, Belichick's dog, Nike, an Alaskan Klee Kai, gained attention after appearing on camera during the NFL draft.
January 10, 2021: Report of Planned Presidential Medal of Freedom Award
On January 10, 2021, it was reported that then-President Donald Trump planned to award Belichick the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
2021: Meeting with Jordon Hudson
In 2021, Belichick met Jordon Hudson on a flight.
2021: Sports Emmy Award
In 2021, Belichick was awarded a Sports Emmy for his contributions to the NFL 100 All-Time Team series.
2021: Mac Jones Era Begins
In 2021, Bill Belichick drafted Mac Jones, released Cam Newton, and named Jones the starting quarterback. Tom Brady returned to Gillette Stadium with the Buccaneers, narrowly defeating the Patriots 19-17. Belichick led the Patriots to a 10-7 record, but they lost in the Wild Card Round to the Buffalo Bills.
2022: Patriots Fight for Playoff Spot Amidst Injuries
In the 2022 season, despite quarterback Mac Jones' injury, the Patriots finished with an 8-9 record and remained in playoff contention until the last week.
2023: Worst Loss and Final Season with Patriots
During the 2023 season, Belichick suffered the worst loss of his coaching career against the Dallas Cowboys and his worst home loss against the Saints. He reached his 300th career win against the Buffalo Bills. He finished the season with a 4-13 record and the team's 15-game winning streak over the Jets was snapped.
2023: Relationship with Jordon Hudson Begins
In 2023, Belichick began dating Jordon Hudson.
2023: Relationship with Linda Holliday Ends
In 2023, Belichick's relationship with Linda Holliday ended.
January 11, 2024: Belichick and Patriots Part Ways
On January 11, 2024, Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots mutually agreed to part ways, ending his tenure as head coach.
May 2024: Peyton Manning on Belichick as an Analyst
In May 2024, Peyton Manning praised Belichick's analytical skills and wit as he transitions into a media role.
June 3, 2024: Belichick Receives Croatian Citizenship
On June 3, 2024, Bill Belichick received Croatian citizenship in Zagreb and attended a football match between Croatia and North Macedonia.
June 2024: News of Relationship with Jordon Hudson
In June 2024, it was reported that Belichick was in a relationship with Jordon Hudson.
December 11, 2024: Belichick Named Head Coach of North Carolina Tar Heels
On December 11, 2024, Bill Belichick was named the head football coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, marking his first coaching role at the collegiate level.
2024: Scott Pioli 1995 Salary Equivalent
In 1995, Scott Pioli made the equivalent of $32,447 in 2024 dollars as a scout for the Browns.
2024: Analyst on The Pat McAfee Show
In 2024, after leaving the Patriots, Bill Belichick agreed to appear weekly as an analyst on ESPN's The Pat McAfee Show.
2024: Belichick Joins Manningcast
In 2024, it was revealed that Bill Belichick would join Peyton and Eli Manning on the Manningcast, an alternate broadcast of Monday Night Football.
