Bill Belichick Rewriting Grouch Reputation In Time For 2025 Head Coach Search

For two decades he built an NFL dynasty that won six Super Bowls and was both the envy of and template for other teams. In that time, Bill Belichick adopted the persona of an unfriendly, off-putting, perhaps even contemptible, grouch.

Belichick as an unsympathetic figure, even with some of his players, became what practically everyone outside New England saw and believed was true.

And there was some truth to the coach's unkind reputation after allegations about cheating on the field through the use of video or deflated footballs, and cheating off the field with some other man's wife.

Bill Belichick's Misdeeds

Belichick's sometimes disagreeable attitude toward fans, game officials, and the league is well documented. His apparent disdain for some reporters, trademarked by his grunted answers to the most benign questions, became a caricature in a segment on Scott Van Pelt's Sunday evening ESPN show.

Look, any football coach who thinks so much of himself he hires a consigliere and tries to diminish the team's public relations professionals, is evidence of too much self-importance.

So, yeah, Bill Belichick has been championship level objectionable at times.

But Belichick is unemployed now. And that status, either as a coincidence or strategy, has begun to show us a different guy.

An almost likable guy.

Bill Belichick weaved a yarn about the time he and the Patriots cut a deal at the NFL Draft for Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss, but compared the process to childbirth. (Getty Images)

Bill Belichick Reputation Reboot

We're moving along the NFL's calendar that takes us from the Super Bowl to the scouting combine to the draft and suddenly Belichick is on television as a thoughtful, interesting analyst.

He's on the Pat McAfee show yukking it up with the former punter or engaging the other guys with serious football insight -- even though a couple of months ago he wouldn't have given them the time of day.

He's on the Netflix roast of Tom Brady Sunday evening and, even if the jokes were scripted, he embraced them like he's a witty, fun dude. Consider:

"People said Tom and I butted heads a lot. And in a way it was true, but not really," Belichick said during the show. "It was hard to butt heads with Tom because it was so far up [Brady trainer] Alex Guerrero's [butt]."

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 05: Tom Brady attends Netflix Is A Joke Fest's "The Greatest Roast Of All Time: Tom Brady"  at The Kia Forum on May 05, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/WireImage)

A Self-Deprecating Bill Belichick?

Belichick, who is chasing Don Shula as the winningest coach in NFL history, showed a self-deprecating side few knew existed.

"Seriously, I'm so honored to be here for the roast of Tom Brady on Netflix," he said. "It's not to be confused with the roast of Bill Belichick on the 10-part Apple TV series." 

Belichick is obviously connected to some Patriots sayings that have become descriptive of the dynasty's glory days – adages such as "The Patriot Way" or "Do your job."

"Gronk, I've been watching you on FOX NFL Sundays," the coach said. "And I'm begging you, please, stop doing your job."

Belichick, in power for years as New England's unquestioned authority figure, is now even accepting good-natured ribbing about his current unemployment status.

"Do your job?" former receiver Julian Edelman said to Belichick on the roast. "More like need a job, coach."

HOUSTON, TX - DECEMBER 01:  Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots and Julian Edelman #11 react while walking to the sideline in the second half against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on December 1, 2019 in Houston, Texas.  (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

Presenting Fun Guy Bill Belichick

And of course, great-guy Belichick guffawed. 

"You remember when you used to yell at us, ‘Look [a--holes], the [expletive] kids at at Foxboro High could make that [expletive] play," Edelman said. "I’ve been waiting for this for so long: Look, [a--hole], Foxboro High is the only job offer you [expletive] had."

More great-guy Belichick laughter. 

This is fun. And a different side of Belichick.

But one has to wonder how much of it is Belichick showing us his humanity, and how much is strategic? You must know Belichick will be paid to be part of the McAfee show moving forward. And if he joins the Manning alternate telecast of Monday Night Football on ESPN, he'd be paid for that.

And all that paid fun, insight, and attentiveness might be a way to get paid next season.

You must know that Belichick last season encountered a little bit of a surprise when the Patriots began to lose. And lose. And lose.

Patriots coach Bill Belichick during 2023 season. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

People Didn't Like Mistreatment

It was the third time in four seasons the team was under .500 but Belichick was apparently sideswiped by reporters asking pointed questions about his failures and columnists refusing to defend his abilities.

As one Patriots source put it, he didn't understand how people he'd been mistreating for years wouldn't come to his defense when he was fighting for his job.

Belichick's reputation as something of an acquired taste bled over into his job search. Only the Atlanta Falcons showed significant interest in the six-time Super Bowl winning head coach for their head coach vacancy. Hmmm.

Even when the Falcons' brain trust reportedly voted on who should be their next coach, Belichick obviously didn't win. He didn't even make the top three, which said a lot about everyone involved in the saga, none of it praiseworthy.

Foxborough, MA - January 11: New England Patriots former head coach Bill Belichick addressed the media at Gillette Stadium about his departure. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

Belichick Helps Himself For Next Hiring Cycle

None of what happened with Belichick during the job search had anything to do with his ability to coach. It all had to do with his reputation away from the sideline.

So what we're seeing now is possibly (probably) an intentional rehabilitation of the way he's acted away from those sidelines for decades. 

Oh, you don't believe it's intentional? 

The guy has reached 2,030,348 Super Bowls concocting schemes on the field. Off the field, last year he leaked information of a one-year contract extension and his intentions to keep coaching as a way to keep his job. And you wonder if he'd be following a strategy now?

Scheme or not, Belichick is, until further notice, a people person. He's a fun guy. Someone everyone can like and appreciate.

Yeah, that's the ticket. That should help during the 2025 head coach hiring cycle.