History of Bill Belichick in Timeline

Bill Belichick is an American football coach, considered one of the greatest of all time. He is renowned for his success with the New England Patriots, where he won a record six Super Bowls as head coach. He also won two Super Bowls as the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants. Belichick holds numerous coaching records and is regarded as a football historian, known for his deep understanding of the game. He played a central role in the Patriots' dynasty from 2001 to 2019, functioning as both head coach and de facto general manager.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1934: Chicago Bears perfect season

In 1934, the Chicago Bears achieved a perfect season, one of only four teams in NFL history to accomplish this feat.

1942: Chicago Bears perfect season

In 1942, the Chicago Bears achieved a perfect season, one of only four teams in NFL history to accomplish this feat.

1948: Cleveland Browns and Calgary Stampeders perfect seasons

In 1948, both the Cleveland Browns of the All-America Football Conference and the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League recorded perfect seasons.

April 16, 1952: Bill Belichick's Birth

On April 16, 1952, William Stephen Belichick was born. He would later become a renowned American football coach.

1970: Graduation from Annapolis High School

In 1970, Bill Belichick graduated from Annapolis High School.

1972: Miami Dolphins 18 straight victories

In 1972, the Miami Dolphins achieved 18 straight victories, setting a record for most consecutive wins that would later be broken by the New England Patriots in the 2000s.

1972: Miami Dolphins perfect season

In 1972, the Miami Dolphins achieved a perfect season, finishing the regular season at 14–0 and winning three playoff games, and are the only team to have an undefeated season in the Super Bowl era.

1973: Miami Dolphins 18 straight victories

In 1973, the Miami Dolphins continued their streak from the previous year, contributing to their record of 18 straight victories that would later be broken by the New England Patriots in the 2000s.

1975: Start of Coaching Career

In 1975, Bill Belichick began his coaching career as an assistant for the Baltimore Colts.

1975: Graduation from Wesleyan University

In 1975, Bill Belichick earned a bachelor's degree in economics from Wesleyan University.

1975: Assistant to Baltimore Colts Head Coach

In 1975, after graduating, Bill Belichick took a $25-per-week job as an assistant to Baltimore Colts head coach Ted Marchibroda.

1976: Assistant Special Teams Coach for the Detroit Lions

In 1976, Bill Belichick joined the Detroit Lions as their assistant special teams coach.

1977: Belichick Marries Debby Clarke

In 1977, Belichick married Debby Clarke Belichick.

1977: Coaching Duties Expanded with Detroit Lions

In 1977, Bill Belichick's coaching duties with the Detroit Lions expanded to include tight ends and wide receivers.

January 9, 1978: Dismissal from the Detroit Lions

On January 9, 1978, Bill Belichick was dismissed along with head coach Tommy Hudspeth and the rest of the coaching staff from the Detroit Lions.

1978: Introduction of the 16-game regular season schedule

In 1978, the NFL introduced the 16-game regular season schedule, impacting how teams approached the season and making a perfect regular season more challenging.

1979: Joins New York Giants Coaching Staff

In 1979, Bill Belichick began a 12-year stint with the New York Giants as a defensive assistant and special teams coach under head coach Ray Perkins.

1980: Added Linebackers Coaching to Duties

In 1980, Bill Belichick added linebackers coaching to his duties with the New York Giants.

1983: Bill Parcells Replaces Ray Perkins as Head Coach

In 1983, Bill Parcells replaced Ray Perkins as the head coach of the New York Giants, where Bill Belichick was coaching.

1985: Defensive Coordinator for the New York Giants

In 1985, Bill Belichick became the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants under head coach Bill Parcells.

1985: Named Defensive Coordinator

In 1985, Bill Belichick was named defensive coordinator for the New York Giants under head coach Bill Parcells.

1985: Broncos miss playoffs with 11 wins

In 1985, the Denver Broncos are the only other 11-win team to miss the playoffs in a 16-game season, a situation that the Patriots faced in 2008.

1986: Giants Win Super Bowl XXI

Following the 1986 season, the New York Giants, with Bill Belichick as defensive coordinator, won Super Bowl XXI.

1990: Giants Win Super Bowl XXV

Following the 1990 season, the New York Giants, with Bill Belichick as defensive coordinator, won Super Bowl XXV.

1991: Becomes Head Coach of Cleveland Browns

In 1991, Bill Belichick became the head coach of the Cleveland Browns.

1992: Dallas Cowboys won three of four Super Bowls

In 1992, the Dallas Cowboys began a period where they won three of four Super Bowls, a feat matched by Bill Belichick as the only coach to accomplish it with one team.

1993: Cutting Bernie Kosar

Midway through the 1993 season, one of Bill Belichick's most controversial moves was cutting quarterback Bernie Kosar from the Cleveland Browns.

1994: Leads Browns to Playoffs

In 1994, Bill Belichick led the Cleveland Browns to the playoffs, his only winning year with the team.

November 1995: Browns Move Announced

In November 1995, Browns owner Art Modell announced he would move his franchise to Baltimore after the season.

1995: Firing from the Cleveland Browns

Following the 1995 season, Bill Belichick was fired as head coach of the Cleveland Browns.

1995: Dallas Cowboys won three of four Super Bowls

In 1995, the Dallas Cowboys completed a period where they won three of four Super Bowls, a feat matched by Bill Belichick as the only coach to accomplish it with one team.

February 14, 1996: Fired by the Cleveland Browns

On February 14, 1996, Bill Belichick was fired as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns.

1996: Possible Draft of Ray Lewis

In 1996, Bill Belichick had planned on drafting Ray Lewis in the NFL draft if he and the team stayed in Cleveland.

1996: Assistant Head Coach for the New England Patriots

In 1996, after his dismissal by the Cleveland Browns, Bill Belichick served under Bill Parcells again 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 New York Jets interim head coach while the Jets and Patriots negotiated compensation for Bill Parcells.

1999: Arranged Succession

After the 1999 season, Bill Parcells had arranged with team management to have Bill Belichick succeed him as head coach.

January 4, 2000: Resigns from Jets Head Coach Position

On January 4, 2000, Bill Belichick resigned as head coach of the New York Jets, one day after his hiring was publicized.

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' 12th full-time head coach after a deal with the Jets involving draft pick compensation.

2000: 5-11 Season

In the 2000 regular season, the Patriots went 5-11 and missed the playoffs.

2001: Beginning of Patriots Dynasty

In 2001, Bill Belichick was a central figure as the head coach and de facto general manager during the New England Patriots' dynasty.

2001: First Super Bowl Championship

In 2001, the Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVI, marking the first Super Bowl championship in franchise history. They defeated the Oakland Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs.

2002: Missed Playoffs

In 2002, the Patriots went 9-7 and missed the playoffs due to tiebreakers.

2002: Patriots miss the playoffs

In 2008, the Patriots missed the playoffs for the first time since 2002 despite going 11-5, losing on tiebreakers to the Miami Dolphins and the Baltimore Ravens.

2003: Patriots Win Divisional Title

In 2003, Bill Belichick led the Patriots to win a divisional title.

2003: AP NFL Coach of the Year

In 2003, Bill Belichick was named the AP NFL Coach of the Year.

2003: Super Bowl XXXVIII Victory and Coach of the Year

The Patriots dominated in the 2003 season finishing 14-2 after a rocky start. They defeated the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII, and Bill Belichick was named NFL Coach of the Year.

2004: Patriots win Super Bowl XXXIX

In 2004, the Patriots finished with a 14–2 record, defeated the Indianapolis Colts in the divisional round, and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game. They won Super Bowl XXXIX against the Philadelphia Eagles, becoming only the second team to win three Super Bowls in four years. Bill Belichick is the only coach to accomplish this feat as of 2004.

2005: Belichick becomes the winningest coach in Patriots history

In 2005, the Patriots went 10–6 and defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Wild Card Round before losing to the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round. With a season-opening win over the Oakland Raiders, Belichick notched his 54th win with the Patriots, passing Mike Holovak as the winningest coach in Patriots history.

2006: Patriots regular season wins streak

From 2006-2008, the Patriots achieved a regular season wins streak that contributed to breaking their own record for consecutive regular season wins with 21.

2006: Belichick Divorces Debby Clarke

In 2006, Belichick divorced Debby Clarke Belichick.

2006: Patriots lose to Colts in AFC Championship Game

In 2006, the Patriots finished with a 12–4 record and defeated the New York Jets and San Diego Chargers in the playoffs before losing to the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship by a score of 38–34. The Patriots led 21–3 but the Colts mounted a comeback.

September 9, 2007: "Spygate" incident

On September 9, 2007, NFL security caught a Patriots video assistant taping the New York Jets' defensive signals from the sidelines, which is not an approved location, leading to the "Spygate" incident.

2007: Belichick Enters Relationship with Linda Holliday

In 2007, Belichick began a relationship with Linda Holliday, the executive director of the Bill Belichick Foundation.

2007: Belichick Comments on Relationship with Nick Saban

In 2007, Belichick described his friendship with Nick Saban by noting their shared Croatian heritage and success in the NFL.

2007: Patriots achieve perfect regular season

In 2007, Belichick led the Patriots to the first perfect regular season since the introduction of the 16-game regular season schedule. They defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars and San Diego Chargers in the playoffs but were upset in Super Bowl XLII by the New York Giants, preserving the Miami Dolphins' record as the sole team to have a perfect season.

2007: Patriots Win Divisional Title

In 2007, Bill Belichick led the Patriots to win a divisional title.

2007: AP NFL Coach of the Year

In 2007, Bill Belichick was named the AP NFL Coach of the Year.

2007: Belichick awarded NFL Coach of the Year

In 2007, following the Spygate incident, Belichick led the Patriots to a perfect 16–0 regular season record and was awarded the 2007 NFL Coach of the Year Award by the Associated Press.

2008: Tom Brady season-ending injury

During the 2008 season-opener, quarterback Tom Brady sustained a season-ending injury. Backup quarterback Matt Cassel was named the starter for the remainder of the season. The Patriots broke their own record for regular season wins in a row with 21 (2006–08).

2008: Pioli's Departure

In 2008, Scott Pioli, the Patriots' player personnel director, left for the Kansas City Chiefs.

2008: NFL fines Belichick and the Patriots

In 2008, following the Spygate incident, the NFL fined Belichick $500,000 and the Patriots $250,000 and forfeited their first-round draft pick in the 2008 NFL draft.

2008: Inducted into Wesleyan University's 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 Gains Full Control

By 2009, Bill Belichick had near-complete control over the New England Patriots' football operations, functioning as the de facto general manager.

2009: Patriots Win Divisional Title

In 2009, Bill Belichick led the Patriots to win a divisional title.

2009: Patriots first season without 12+ wins since 2009

In 2018, the Patriots went 11-5, failing to win 12 or more games for the first time since 2009.

2010: AP NFL Coach of the Year

In 2010, Bill Belichick was named the AP NFL Coach of the Year.

2010: Patriots lose to Jets in divisional round

In the 2010 season, Belichick and the Patriots finished with a 14–2 record for the top seed in the AFC, but lost to the New York Jets in the divisional round by a score of 28-21.

2011: Induction into Phillips Academy Athletics Hall of Honor

In 2011, Phillips Academy honored Bill Belichick by inducting him into its Athletics Hall of Honor.

2011: Patriots win AFC Championship but lose Super Bowl XLVI

In 2011, the Patriots topped the AFC with a 13–3 record, won the AFC Championship game against the Baltimore Ravens, and advanced to Super Bowl XLVI. In Super Bowl XLVI, the Patriots lost to the New York Giants by a score of 21–17.

September 26, 2012: Belichick fined for grabbing official's arm

On September 26, 2012, Belichick was fined $50,000 for grabbing a replacement official's arm while asking for clarity on a ruling after a loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

2012: Sean Payton suspended for Saints bounty scheme

In 2012, the New Orleans Saints' Sean Payton was suspended for the entire season for covering up a scheme in which bounties were paid for deliberately knocking opponents out of games, surpassing the sanctions against Belichick as the harshest imposed on a head coach in league history.

2013: A Football Life Episode

In 2013, the episode of A Football Life on the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy, sports journalists reflected on how Belichick had laid the groundwork for the Ravens' success.

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2013: Patriots face upheaval on offense but still make playoffs

In the 2013 season, the Patriots faced upheaval on offense due to injuries, arrests, and departures of key players, but still finished with a 12–4 record, won the AFC East, and secured a playoff berth. They lost to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game.

2014: "We're on to Cincinnati" press conference

In 2014, after a 2-2 start, Belichick famously uttered, "We're on to Cincinnati" several times during a press conference. The Patriots finished with a 12–4 record and won Super Bowl XLIX, giving Belichick his fourth championship as head coach.

July 2015: Amanda Belichick Named Head Lacrosse Coach at Holy Cross

In July 2015, Belichick's daughter, Amanda, became the head women's lacrosse coach at the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts.

2015: Patriots lose to Broncos in AFC Championship Game

In 2015, the Patriots recorded a 12–4 record and lost to the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship Game.

2016: Patriots win Super Bowl LI

In 2016, the Patriots recorded a 14–2 record and won Super Bowl LI against the Atlanta Falcons in a comeback victory. With the victory, Belichick won his record fifth Super Bowl title as a head coach.

2017: Patriots lose Super Bowl LII

In 2017, the Patriots went 13–3 and reached Super Bowl LII, but fell to the Philadelphia Eagles, 41–33. This marked Belichick's eighth title game as head coach and his eleventh overall in any capacity. The Patriots were down early and could not make a comeback despite coming close.

May 2018: Appointment to Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition

In May 2018, Belichick was appointed by President Donald Trump to be a member of his Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition.

2018: Patriots win Super Bowl LIII

In 2018, the Patriots went 11–5 and captured their 10th consecutive AFC East title. They won Super Bowl LIII, defeating the Los Angeles Rams 13–3, giving Belichick his sixth Super Bowl championship as a head coach.

May 13, 2019: Belichick Assumes Defensive Coordinator Role

On May 13, 2019, Bill Belichick announced that he would assume the role of the Patriots' defensive coordinator starting with the 2019 season.

October 27, 2019: Belichick Achieves 300th Win

On October 27, 2019, Belichick secured his 300th win as a head coach, combining regular and postseason games, with the Patriots' victory over the Cleveland Browns.

2019: Patriots Win Divisional Title

In 2019, Bill Belichick led the Patriots to win a divisional title.

2019: End of Patriots Dynasty

In 2019, Bill Belichick's tenure with the New England Patriots and the Patriots dynasty came to an end.

2019: Analyst for NFL 100 All-Time Team

In 2019, while coaching the Patriots, Belichick served as an analyst alongside Rich Eisen and Cris Collinsworth for the NFL 100 All-Time Team series on NFL Network. He also served as a voter and tape breakdown analyst.

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November 28, 2020: Report on Belichick Coaching Tree's Track Record

As of November 28, 2020, former assistant coaches under Belichick had a combined 208-296-1 record, with many being fired midseason, highlighting the poor track record of the Belichick coaching tree.

2020: Nike the Dog's Appearance During NFL Draft

In 2020, Belichick's Alaskan Klee Kai dog, Nike, made an appearance on camera during the NFL draft, causing a surge of interest in the breed.

2020: Patriots Face Quarterback Uncertainty and COVID-19 Challenges

In 2020, following Tom Brady's departure, the Patriots signed Cam Newton. The 2020 NFL season was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a 7-9 record, Belichick's first losing season since his initial year in New England.

January 10, 2021: Trump Plans to Award Belichick Medal of Freedom

On January 10, 2021, it was reported that then-president Donald Trump planned to award Belichick the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

2021: Meeting Jordon Hudson

In 2021, Belichick and Jordon Hudson reportedly met on a flight.

2021: Belichick Awarded Sports Emmy

In 2021, Belichick received a Sports Emmy for his contributions to the NFL 100 All-Time Team series.

2021: Mac Jones Drafted and Brady's Return to Gillette Stadium

In 2021, the Patriots drafted Mac Jones and named him the starting quarterback after releasing Cam Newton. During Week 4 of 2021, Tom Brady visited Gillette Stadium for the first time since joining the Buccaneers, with Tampa Bay narrowly defeating the Patriots 19-17. Belichick led the Patriots to a 10-7 record that year and the team lost to the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card Round.

2022: Patriots' 2022 Season

In the 2022 season, the Patriots finished with an 8-9 record despite quarterback Mac Jones being injured and missing several weeks.

2023: Worst Loss and 300th Regular Season Win

During the 2023 season, Belichick suffered the worst loss of his career to the Dallas Cowboys and the worst home loss against the Saints. He also achieved his 300th career regular season win against the Buffalo Bills. After a loss to the Colts, Bailey Zappe was named the starting quarterback. The Patriots finished the 2023 season with a 4-13 record, their worst under Belichick.

2023: Belichick and Holliday end Relationship

In 2023, Belichick and Linda Holliday ended their relationship.

2023: Dating Jordon Hudson

It was reported that Belichick and Jordon Hudson have been dating since 2023.

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 Praises Belichick as an Analyst

In May 2024, Peyton Manning commented on Belichick's abilities as an analyst and his contributions to "The Pat McAfee Show", praising his intelligence, wit, and coaching brilliance.

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June 3, 2024: Belichick Receives Croatian Citizenship

On June 3, 2024, Belichick received Croatian citizenship in Zagreb from Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. He also attended a football match between Croatia and North Macedonia.

June 2024: Reported Relationship with Jordon Hudson

In June 2024, it was reported that Belichick was in a relationship with Jordon Hudson, a former cheerleader and pageant runner-up.

December 11, 2024: Belichick Named Head Coach of North Carolina Tar Heels

On December 11, 2024, Belichick was named the 35th head football coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels football team, marking his first coaching role at the collegiate level.

2024: Equivalent Value

In 2024, $14,000 in 1995 is equivalent to $32,447.

2024: Belichick Joins Manningcast

In 2024, Peyton Manning announced that Belichick would join the Manning brothers on the Manningcast, an alternate broadcast of Monday Night Football, appearing on every broadcast during the season.

2024: Belichick Joins The Pat McAfee Show as Analyst

In 2024, after leaving the Patriots, Belichick agreed to appear weekly on ESPN's "The Pat McAfee Show" as an analyst, starting with the "5th Annual Draft Spectacular" covering the 2024 NFL draft.

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