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Belichick: The Making of the Greatest Football Coach of All Time
A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
The definitive biography of the NFL’s most enigmatic, controversial, and yet successful coach
Bill Belichick is perhaps the most fascinating figure in the NFL—the infamously dour face of one of the winningest franchises in sports. As head coach of the New England Patriots, he’s led the team to five Super Bowl championship trophies. In this revelatory and robust biography, readers will come to understand and see Belichick’s full life in football, from watching college games as a kid with his father, a Naval Academy scout, to orchestrating two Super Bowl–winning game plans as defensive coordinator for the Giants, to his dramatic leap to New England, where he has made history.
Award-winning columnist and New York Times best-selling author Ian O’Connor delves into the mind of the man who has earned a place among coaching legends like Lombardi, Halas, and Paul Brown, presenting sides of Belichick that have been previously unexplored. O’Connor discovers how this legendary coach shaped the people he met and worked with in ways perhaps even Belichick himself doesn’t know. Those who follow and love pro football know Bill Belichick only as the hooded genius of the Patriots. But there is so much more—from the hidden tensions and deep layers to his relationship with Tom Brady to his sometimes frosty dealings with owner Robert Kraft to his ability to earn the unmitigated respect of his players—if not their affection. This is a man who has many facets and, ultimately, has created a notorious football dynasty. Based on exhaustive research and countless interviews, this book circles around Belichick to tell his full story for the first time, and presents an incisive portrait of a mastermind at work.
The definitive biography of the NFL’s most enigmatic, controversial, and yet successful coach
Bill Belichick is perhaps the most fascinating figure in the NFL—the infamously dour face of one of the winningest franchises in sports. As head coach of the New England Patriots, he’s led the team to five Super Bowl championship trophies. In this revelatory and robust biography, readers will come to understand and see Belichick’s full life in football, from watching college games as a kid with his father, a Naval Academy scout, to orchestrating two Super Bowl–winning game plans as defensive coordinator for the Giants, to his dramatic leap to New England, where he has made history.
Award-winning columnist and New York Times best-selling author Ian O’Connor delves into the mind of the man who has earned a place among coaching legends like Lombardi, Halas, and Paul Brown, presenting sides of Belichick that have been previously unexplored. O’Connor discovers how this legendary coach shaped the people he met and worked with in ways perhaps even Belichick himself doesn’t know. Those who follow and love pro football know Bill Belichick only as the hooded genius of the Patriots. But there is so much more—from the hidden tensions and deep layers to his relationship with Tom Brady to his sometimes frosty dealings with owner Robert Kraft to his ability to earn the unmitigated respect of his players—if not their affection. This is a man who has many facets and, ultimately, has created a notorious football dynasty. Based on exhaustive research and countless interviews, this book circles around Belichick to tell his full story for the first time, and presents an incisive portrait of a mastermind at work.
512 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
September 7, 2019
In the interest of full disclosure, I am a devout Patriots fan and awed by the brilliant football mind of it's coach. My issue with this unauthorized biography is the long winded sections about non football legal issues relating to "Spygate", "Deflategate" "Audio Headphonegate" and "Malcolm Butler Super Bowl Benching Gate". Nothing new here but I was interested in the teams the coach constructed that won six Super Bowls in 18 years. I get it, sports fans hate dynasties and always root for David vs Goliath. I remember when the Dallas Cowboys were "America's Team" and hated by all non Texan sports fans but let's be fair. The Patriots non football related issues were all blown out of proportion by a mostly Patriot hating sports media and fans of teams that can't beat the Patriots on the football field. Bill Belichick is only guilty of a 24/7 focus on constructing teams and game plans that result in wins, year after year.
October 26, 2018
The word exhaustive is used in a few reviews here, and I think that’s a perfect double-edged adjective to use in describing this book. There are moments of clear insight here that rival the Tiger Woods biography from earlier this year in their penetrating revelations of the fragile egos behind these two great champions, but there’s also a lot of stuff here that’s got an obligatory feel to it, with little fresh study of the championships and the other hallowed and/or infamous moments of which even the casual football fan is well aware. Maybe not the final word on this subject, but certainly a key moment in the study of this iconic figure.
March 13, 2021
The first half was very well-researched but the second half read like a summary of the Patriots dynasty with little-to-no new info presented. You won’t find much post-2001 that wasn’t already witnessed or written about by a major outlet. It started to become less about Bill and more about the team, but I’m sure that is partly due to how hard it is to get insider information smuggled out of Foxborough these days. Decent book and confirmation the Little Bill is a decent man (and great coach).
February 19, 2020
starts out good but the latter portion, arguably the most interesting part of Belichick's career, might as well just be a compilation of gossipy ESPN articles. it costs $0 to read gossipy ESPN articles.
April 1, 2019
Overall I thought it was fair to Belichick (note: I am a die-hard Pats' fan), but I would say that in talking about the "Gates" that O'Connor didn't do all that even-handed a job discussing them. There was also a few instances where he wrote what Belichick *should* have done in terms of roster development which seems a little presumptuous. It also came out before the sixth title, so the last chapter and the epilogue in particular feel less relevant.
Overall a good book, but not nearly as good as Halberstram's take (Education of a Coach), which benefited from Belichick interviews (he refused to cooperate with O'Connor).
Overall a good book, but not nearly as good as Halberstram's take (Education of a Coach), which benefited from Belichick interviews (he refused to cooperate with O'Connor).
October 14, 2018
Enjoyed learning about his pre-Patriot years. He is emotionally stunted.
The Patriot years are well known and were redundant to me.
The Patriot years are well known and were redundant to me.
December 31, 2018
Brilliant, but extremely dense and at times felt like a textbook. Fantastic memories with many instances I had long forgotten. 🏈🏈🏈
June 7, 2020
Reading this alongside watching the docuseries "The Last Dance" has been a transformative experience over the last couple of weeks. The Last Dance follow's Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bull's dynasty during the 90's and this book cover's Belichick & Brady and the founding of the Patriots Dynasty of the 2000's-10's. What shines through in both works is the subject matter's absolute commitment to their craft and the champion mindset that is required to be the best at what you do. They have helped give me a new appreciation for professional athletics and a new focus in the pursuit of my own goals.
Belichick and his team have a reputation for being the Darth Vader of the NFL. His dominance over the sport is indisputable with his 6 championship rings, 10 appearances (also 2/2 with the Giants), and excellent winning average over the course of the regular seasons. The author does a great job portraying the elements of his philosophy, leadership style, and work ethic that make this happen.
The three elements that are the interwoven backbone of his success are: love of football, mastery of details, and absolutely grueling work ethic. From a young age, inspired by his father's career, he was immersed and constantly playing, watching or studying football. He worked hard and studied harder, and wasn't afraid to innovate throughout his career. This book highlights his incredible drive and regular 100 hour work weeks maintained over decades. In addition, his ability to innovate and see players for their strengths and weaknesses helped him create super star role players from players that were unsuccessful in their former teams.
His personality evolved over the years as he matured and became more confident in his role as coach. The author does a good job peeling back the Belichick image in the media and showing him as a supportive coach to his players and as a good friend. What's missing is his interactions with his ex-wife and children but I imagine he would be intensively private about those things. What's also missing is the man himself, as he wanted no part in this biography and some of the key figures in his story refused to interview as well. We only have the faces they put on to the public and the testimony some former teammates and coaches. What's also appropriately covered are Deflategate and Spygate, not hammered home but definitely addressed and fully considered.
All in all, this is a well rounded biography of an iconic New England figure and the greatest Football coach of all time. What most stuck with me is the drive and intensity needed to master one's craft and the focus on winning above all else. The other elements that stuck with me is letting actions dictate the narrative and some solid elements of leadership like setting the example, supporting your team and having a well justified belief in the strength of your teammates. Also the need to master all the fine details and be constantly well prepared. One quote that Belichick had hung up from Sun Tzu that sticks with me and encapsulates his philosophy "Every battle is won or lost before it's ever fought"
Belichick and his team have a reputation for being the Darth Vader of the NFL. His dominance over the sport is indisputable with his 6 championship rings, 10 appearances (also 2/2 with the Giants), and excellent winning average over the course of the regular seasons. The author does a great job portraying the elements of his philosophy, leadership style, and work ethic that make this happen.
The three elements that are the interwoven backbone of his success are: love of football, mastery of details, and absolutely grueling work ethic. From a young age, inspired by his father's career, he was immersed and constantly playing, watching or studying football. He worked hard and studied harder, and wasn't afraid to innovate throughout his career. This book highlights his incredible drive and regular 100 hour work weeks maintained over decades. In addition, his ability to innovate and see players for their strengths and weaknesses helped him create super star role players from players that were unsuccessful in their former teams.
His personality evolved over the years as he matured and became more confident in his role as coach. The author does a good job peeling back the Belichick image in the media and showing him as a supportive coach to his players and as a good friend. What's missing is his interactions with his ex-wife and children but I imagine he would be intensively private about those things. What's also missing is the man himself, as he wanted no part in this biography and some of the key figures in his story refused to interview as well. We only have the faces they put on to the public and the testimony some former teammates and coaches. What's also appropriately covered are Deflategate and Spygate, not hammered home but definitely addressed and fully considered.
All in all, this is a well rounded biography of an iconic New England figure and the greatest Football coach of all time. What most stuck with me is the drive and intensity needed to master one's craft and the focus on winning above all else. The other elements that stuck with me is letting actions dictate the narrative and some solid elements of leadership like setting the example, supporting your team and having a well justified belief in the strength of your teammates. Also the need to master all the fine details and be constantly well prepared. One quote that Belichick had hung up from Sun Tzu that sticks with me and encapsulates his philosophy "Every battle is won or lost before it's ever fought"
July 14, 2020
Ok, ok...I got curious. I am decidedly not a Pats fan. But success is intriguing, and I wanted to see what sort of leader the most successful coach in NFL history was.
In short, there aren't a lot of takeaways in this book, as Belichick notoriously holds his cards close. This biography is largely what others have to say about him. He is ruthlessly focused. He is surprisingly generous. He is shameless in gaming the rules. He is great at taking responsibility for team failures. He is willing to listen to any idea which legitimately gives his team an edge.
In other words, he knows what his job is, and he has devoted himself to getting that job done and setting an example to his team to be that devoted. The most interesting tidbit is when O'Conner makes a clear case that Belichick was ready to move on from Brady quite a while ago...so the 2020 season will be a wish come true for ol' Bill.
The writing style was a bit too scattered/disorganized for enjoyable reading. The "episodes" often felt out of order, or told in a clunky way. But fans of football will quite enjoy a more "inside" look at the most hated (or if you're from Boston, beloved) coach of all time, largely because he is the most victorious football coach of all time. I guess the main thing to takeaway is that it ain't easy being the best.
In short, there aren't a lot of takeaways in this book, as Belichick notoriously holds his cards close. This biography is largely what others have to say about him. He is ruthlessly focused. He is surprisingly generous. He is shameless in gaming the rules. He is great at taking responsibility for team failures. He is willing to listen to any idea which legitimately gives his team an edge.
In other words, he knows what his job is, and he has devoted himself to getting that job done and setting an example to his team to be that devoted. The most interesting tidbit is when O'Conner makes a clear case that Belichick was ready to move on from Brady quite a while ago...so the 2020 season will be a wish come true for ol' Bill.
The writing style was a bit too scattered/disorganized for enjoyable reading. The "episodes" often felt out of order, or told in a clunky way. But fans of football will quite enjoy a more "inside" look at the most hated (or if you're from Boston, beloved) coach of all time, largely because he is the most victorious football coach of all time. I guess the main thing to takeaway is that it ain't easy being the best.
April 15, 2021
This is an insightful biography that flows well and is well written. Basically it boils down to Belichick is obsessed with his work and as a result is wildly successful, especially when paired with a talented star like Brady. Sometimes the writing skews to praising and/or defending the coach instead of reporting and telling the story of his life so far.
October 6, 2021
Quite thorough and broad reaching look into Bill’s life which is more football than family.
October 21, 2021
Not sure why O'Connor buys into the spygate and deflategate conspiracy theories. He should have done better research ;)
March 2, 2022
Bill Belicheck is one of the most feared figures by the media today. His monotone voice and his “I wish I wasn’t here” attitude drive those who want information crazy. Even though the author of this book, Ian O’Connor, admittedly never interviewed Belichick, he still interviewed hundreds of people close to him to get the information he needed. Billy has been in a lot of sports recently because of his relationship with Tom Brady and how it will impact Brady’s free agency decision and the future of the New England Patriots. In the midst of the drama, I believed that there was not a more appropriate time to read this book.
During this section of reading for me, the second half of the book, Belicheck begins his tenure in New England after a disappointing time in Cleveland. Belicheck, believe it or not, had a poor experience in New England at first. He was the successor to Pete Carroll and Pete Carroll is a known nice guy. Bill Bellicheck was the exact opposite as Pete Carroll and he proved it when he put his players through “hell”. Players would say that they never have been mentally and physically drained as much as they did when Bill put them through “Belichick week”. Many players did not believe that this cruel coaching was the right method if they wanted to gain each other's trust. Many did not want Bellichick in the first place, but Kraft did not listen to them and instead brought him in. Bill’s time looked to be deja vu to his time in Cleveland before his starting quarterback, Drew Bledsoe, went down with an injury after getting hit by Jet's linebacker, Mo Lewis during a 2001 exhibition game. After that, Belichick hit rock bottom because he believed that if he ended up with another losing season then he would be fired. This of course was not the case because of Tom Brady and they went on to win the Superbowl in 2002, 2004 and 2005. The book glossed over multiple scandals such as the infamous spygate, deflategate and even benching Malcolm Butler. The largest scandal however was of course the Aaron Hernandez situation. Believe it or not, during the whole situation Bill was calling his family and keeping in touch in Kraft because he did not know what to do. Aaron Hernandez almost compromised his relationship with not only Kraft, but also Tom Brady at the time. Since Bill drafted Aaron, Kraft questioned Bill’s ability to access talent successfully. This shows one of the most important lessons in the book, someone may be seen as god-like on the field, but off the field they are just like anyone else, very human. The press conferences and interviews definitely could not teach you about the mysterious Bill as this book did.
I liked how the book focused on Bill so precisely. Even though Bill is on the cover, you would think that at times the author would go off topic and talk about someone else. This was not the case however, when the Malcolm Butler situation was brought to the attention of the author, his name could have been replaced with an x variable and the story would not have changed. It focused more on how Belicheck felt than what he did during each situation.
I wish that he actually interviewed because it would be exciting if he could clarify certain things like why was he so calm about Spygate and if he really did deflategate or not. The small things would have made this book that much better, even though it was strong anyway. Ian O'Connor worked around the fact that Bill Belichick is a very introverted man to the public and interviewed those who are close to him that know a thing or two about him. He worked it well considering the feat he was asked to complete.
During this section of reading for me, the second half of the book, Belicheck begins his tenure in New England after a disappointing time in Cleveland. Belicheck, believe it or not, had a poor experience in New England at first. He was the successor to Pete Carroll and Pete Carroll is a known nice guy. Bill Bellicheck was the exact opposite as Pete Carroll and he proved it when he put his players through “hell”. Players would say that they never have been mentally and physically drained as much as they did when Bill put them through “Belichick week”. Many players did not believe that this cruel coaching was the right method if they wanted to gain each other's trust. Many did not want Bellichick in the first place, but Kraft did not listen to them and instead brought him in. Bill’s time looked to be deja vu to his time in Cleveland before his starting quarterback, Drew Bledsoe, went down with an injury after getting hit by Jet's linebacker, Mo Lewis during a 2001 exhibition game. After that, Belichick hit rock bottom because he believed that if he ended up with another losing season then he would be fired. This of course was not the case because of Tom Brady and they went on to win the Superbowl in 2002, 2004 and 2005. The book glossed over multiple scandals such as the infamous spygate, deflategate and even benching Malcolm Butler. The largest scandal however was of course the Aaron Hernandez situation. Believe it or not, during the whole situation Bill was calling his family and keeping in touch in Kraft because he did not know what to do. Aaron Hernandez almost compromised his relationship with not only Kraft, but also Tom Brady at the time. Since Bill drafted Aaron, Kraft questioned Bill’s ability to access talent successfully. This shows one of the most important lessons in the book, someone may be seen as god-like on the field, but off the field they are just like anyone else, very human. The press conferences and interviews definitely could not teach you about the mysterious Bill as this book did.
I liked how the book focused on Bill so precisely. Even though Bill is on the cover, you would think that at times the author would go off topic and talk about someone else. This was not the case however, when the Malcolm Butler situation was brought to the attention of the author, his name could have been replaced with an x variable and the story would not have changed. It focused more on how Belicheck felt than what he did during each situation.
I wish that he actually interviewed because it would be exciting if he could clarify certain things like why was he so calm about Spygate and if he really did deflategate or not. The small things would have made this book that much better, even though it was strong anyway. Ian O'Connor worked around the fact that Bill Belichick is a very introverted man to the public and interviewed those who are close to him that know a thing or two about him. He worked it well considering the feat he was asked to complete.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2019
This was a well-written account of Bill Belichick and how be became the coach in New England, then how he used the team to grow and become the successful football genius he is today. A pillar of responsibility and steadfastness leading the winningest team and the GOAT to countless thrilling championships, and fighting his way through myriad controversies can be a life difficult to recount, but O'Connor tried his best to humanize the unflinching resting bitch face that Belichick personifies, while fairly assessing his shortcomings and shady moments.
I didn't much care for O'Connor's obnoxious attempts at politicizing the narrative, and that took away from my enjoyment of the final 3rd of the book significantly. Additionally, I found it a little disappointing that the second half of the book became less about Belichick as a person, and more about the NE Pats as an organization. While this information is great, I was not expecting it, and was not looking for it. It makes the book on the whole appear somewhat misleading.
So, in summary, the book itself as a sports narrative was great, with lots of information and fun football history and trivia. Getting to see Belichick as a young man develop into the man he is today is a treat for Pats fans and football aficionados everywhere. Nevertheless, I don't understand how O'Connor believes his personal, misguided political views fit into a narrative about another man's life - that type of egocentricity is the reason the Democrats lost to Trump in 2016, and O'Connor needs to let that go, and consider revising his book in the future, to account for Belichick: The Later Years, and refocus his biography on the man, the game, and the league, in that order. There's no room for personal petty differences of opinion here.
So a 10/10 read drops to 7.5/10. Still worth it though, but don't feel bad about skipping some of the later passages.
I didn't much care for O'Connor's obnoxious attempts at politicizing the narrative, and that took away from my enjoyment of the final 3rd of the book significantly. Additionally, I found it a little disappointing that the second half of the book became less about Belichick as a person, and more about the NE Pats as an organization. While this information is great, I was not expecting it, and was not looking for it. It makes the book on the whole appear somewhat misleading.
So, in summary, the book itself as a sports narrative was great, with lots of information and fun football history and trivia. Getting to see Belichick as a young man develop into the man he is today is a treat for Pats fans and football aficionados everywhere. Nevertheless, I don't understand how O'Connor believes his personal, misguided political views fit into a narrative about another man's life - that type of egocentricity is the reason the Democrats lost to Trump in 2016, and O'Connor needs to let that go, and consider revising his book in the future, to account for Belichick: The Later Years, and refocus his biography on the man, the game, and the league, in that order. There's no room for personal petty differences of opinion here.
So a 10/10 read drops to 7.5/10. Still worth it though, but don't feel bad about skipping some of the later passages.
April 19, 2020
So almost 500 pages is a lot for a presidential biography and this is a football coach, not a president. First, it was long. I am basically the most un-footbally person out there. But I do watch the Patriots games when they are on in my house. Mostly I am interested in people and personalities. Belichick reminds me of a sarcastic professor who knows he’s smarter than everyone else, demands the hard work he expends from everyone else, but is also nice to people undercover and in ways you don’t expect. It was interesting to learn about his early life and things that shaped his life. There were ALOT of game details that I don’t have the patience for or interest in reading at length. But it was a book about a football coach, so I understand the content. I don’t really feel that the author answered the question of whether Bill is human or not. He gives a lot of details and a lot of anecdotes and yet still no one knows how they feel about Belichick. Is he nice or is he a jerk? Is he justified in how he behaves or is does he need a charm course? Does he get tired of the people he likes or is that surmising from the media? It was not definitive. The end of the book contains speculation about his relationship with Tom Brady, which is interesting given that Brady left the Patriots this year.
So I was hoping for more out of this book, but I learned a lot about football games over the last 20 years. It was long. Bill still doesn’t smile much. The end.
So I was hoping for more out of this book, but I learned a lot about football games over the last 20 years. It was long. Bill still doesn’t smile much. The end.
March 8, 2019
Patriot haters might hate this because you have to read a lot about the greatest coach in history. Patriot lovers might hate this because of the heavy negative focus towards Belichick. I think a neutral person would say that Belichick is fascinating and that the book spends too much time on left handed compliments. O'Connor probably set out to be unbiased, but his bias is very clear throughout the book. He might want to re-think his last chapter based on the results of the 2019 Super Bowl.
June 8, 2019
I wouldn't call this a biography because Mr. O'Connor has very little to tell us about the coach outside the game he is known for. It does begin with the requisite genealogy that you'd see in a biography, but other than announcing a child's birth or a friend passing the story is about how this marginal athlete became the most important coach of the Super Bowl era. This is told in a series of relationships beginning with Bill and his father and progressing with the coaches he played for and then the coaches he coached with.
That his father, Steve Belichick, was a longtime football coach at the Naval Academy is significant in two ways. Football was his upbringing and that upbringing happened at a service academy so his approach to coaching would be more regimented and thus more thorough than his rivals. Life is certainly more complicated than such a summary but it sure makes for a smooth narrative and it's consistent with how his life would unfold.
The reader and the football fan will never really understand why Coach Belichick worked harder than his rivals and continued to do so into his late 60s when he had enough money to last 10 lifetimes. Why are some people driven to be better while others are content with whatever success or luck they happen upon? It's the key to progress in human history. In the case of football, Belichick's drive to be better forced other NFL coaches to work harder and be more innovative.
All of conventional wisdom that coaches use to follow was disrupted when Belichick refused to sit on the ball tied with less than a minute in the 4th quarter in his first Super Bowl. John Madden told us in the audience the conventional wisdom and then Belichick was a fool for rejecting it until he won the game to confound the critics. How did he know not to call the timeout with a minute left against the Seahawks in that later Super Bowl? How did his team remember the defensive scheme they hadn't used since summer camp that created the Malcolm Butler interception that won the game?
Belichick taught us that football is a series of adjustments and no one was more ready to adjust to what his competitors gave him. This is what everyone can learn from great football coaches. Working harder is not enough. You have to be willing to face ridicule by doing unpopular things to grow beyond average. This is why I love Belichick's press conferences. He effectively reduces his circle of concern when it comes to the press and their pressure. The NFL insists that he go and talk to the media for the sake of the NFL brand but Belichick doesn't give energy to that distraction. Win or lose or Goodell he is getting ready to play Miami next week no matter what the scribes ask him.
There is much here about sign stealing and the deflation of football air pressure. The author gives us a deep look into both of those controversies. For those who cannot outwork Belichick or are unfortunate like me to root for teams that have to get passed him for championships this has become an easy narrative to explain their failure. As a longtime baseball fan I find it hilarious that football fans treat these things as unusual. Sign stealing and doctored baseballs are as old as organized baseball. Football is a game where you have to be on guard or risk serious injury or even death on every play. How does that reality exist in the same world where teams whine about sign stealing? It reduces the game to touch football in Hyannis Port.
When sports leagues decide what elements teams are allowed to manage it is understood those teams will manage those items according to their own competitive advantage. The Colorado Rockies keep their baseballs in a humidor to limit the carry. Groundskeepers cut the grass infield differently when facing teams that like to bunt for base hits. If Tom Brady's team manages his footballs then his footballs are going to conform with what makes Tom Brady happy. If the league wants footballs to be a certain PSI then the league should inflate and manage the footballs the entire game. This is not a gentleman's game like golf where players call penalties on themselves.
I'm a Detroit Lions fan that hopes his team someday gets into the Super Bowl and does not face Bill Belichick. But I know if my team beats Bill Belichick in the Super Bowl then they really were the best team in football for at least that moment. The game will not be the same when he retires. There will be other coaches that will be innovative and driven more than their opponents. It almost looked like Jim Harbaugh was going to be one of them before fleeing to the safe confines of Ann Arbor. But we will never see the likes of Belichick again. He has already won another Super Bowl since the publication of the book last fall. He could likely win again. This book will need further editions in order to remain the comprehensive study of the subject. And this is a subject worth studying in detail. Appreciate Belichick while he still in the area because football will be less interesting when leaves the scene.
That his father, Steve Belichick, was a longtime football coach at the Naval Academy is significant in two ways. Football was his upbringing and that upbringing happened at a service academy so his approach to coaching would be more regimented and thus more thorough than his rivals. Life is certainly more complicated than such a summary but it sure makes for a smooth narrative and it's consistent with how his life would unfold.
The reader and the football fan will never really understand why Coach Belichick worked harder than his rivals and continued to do so into his late 60s when he had enough money to last 10 lifetimes. Why are some people driven to be better while others are content with whatever success or luck they happen upon? It's the key to progress in human history. In the case of football, Belichick's drive to be better forced other NFL coaches to work harder and be more innovative.
All of conventional wisdom that coaches use to follow was disrupted when Belichick refused to sit on the ball tied with less than a minute in the 4th quarter in his first Super Bowl. John Madden told us in the audience the conventional wisdom and then Belichick was a fool for rejecting it until he won the game to confound the critics. How did he know not to call the timeout with a minute left against the Seahawks in that later Super Bowl? How did his team remember the defensive scheme they hadn't used since summer camp that created the Malcolm Butler interception that won the game?
Belichick taught us that football is a series of adjustments and no one was more ready to adjust to what his competitors gave him. This is what everyone can learn from great football coaches. Working harder is not enough. You have to be willing to face ridicule by doing unpopular things to grow beyond average. This is why I love Belichick's press conferences. He effectively reduces his circle of concern when it comes to the press and their pressure. The NFL insists that he go and talk to the media for the sake of the NFL brand but Belichick doesn't give energy to that distraction. Win or lose or Goodell he is getting ready to play Miami next week no matter what the scribes ask him.
There is much here about sign stealing and the deflation of football air pressure. The author gives us a deep look into both of those controversies. For those who cannot outwork Belichick or are unfortunate like me to root for teams that have to get passed him for championships this has become an easy narrative to explain their failure. As a longtime baseball fan I find it hilarious that football fans treat these things as unusual. Sign stealing and doctored baseballs are as old as organized baseball. Football is a game where you have to be on guard or risk serious injury or even death on every play. How does that reality exist in the same world where teams whine about sign stealing? It reduces the game to touch football in Hyannis Port.
When sports leagues decide what elements teams are allowed to manage it is understood those teams will manage those items according to their own competitive advantage. The Colorado Rockies keep their baseballs in a humidor to limit the carry. Groundskeepers cut the grass infield differently when facing teams that like to bunt for base hits. If Tom Brady's team manages his footballs then his footballs are going to conform with what makes Tom Brady happy. If the league wants footballs to be a certain PSI then the league should inflate and manage the footballs the entire game. This is not a gentleman's game like golf where players call penalties on themselves.
I'm a Detroit Lions fan that hopes his team someday gets into the Super Bowl and does not face Bill Belichick. But I know if my team beats Bill Belichick in the Super Bowl then they really were the best team in football for at least that moment. The game will not be the same when he retires. There will be other coaches that will be innovative and driven more than their opponents. It almost looked like Jim Harbaugh was going to be one of them before fleeing to the safe confines of Ann Arbor. But we will never see the likes of Belichick again. He has already won another Super Bowl since the publication of the book last fall. He could likely win again. This book will need further editions in order to remain the comprehensive study of the subject. And this is a subject worth studying in detail. Appreciate Belichick while he still in the area because football will be less interesting when leaves the scene.
October 29, 2018
Ian O’Connor’s BELICHICK is a deep and substantive dive into the life of a man many recognize as one of professional football’s greatest coaches. It is a football junkie’s delight, providing generous detail about a man whose football destiny was declared almost at birth. O’Connor accomplished this meticulous chronicle without any assistance from his subject or many in Belichick’s inner circle. He makes it quite clear that Belichick, in addition to declining interviews for the book, asked friends and colleagues not to speak with him. Some did, but many were simply afraid to do so. They were even reluctant to share the warmest stories about Belichick that the public may not know about.
As O’Connor points out, many of the greatest coaches in the history of sports carried some baggage acquired during their exemplary careers. In basketball, John Wooden, Bobby Knight and Rick Pitino are cheered for their NCAA championships but are also remembered for personal shortcomings. Many great baseball managers in the steroid era proudly wear World Series rings along with the scar of casting a blind eye to their players’ use of performance-enhancing chemicals. Belichick’s championships with the New England Patriots will always provoke discussions that focus on illegal filming of opposing coaches’ signals and “Deflategate.” This biography is O’Connor’s attempt to unravel the mystery of the man. In 2000, he wrote a newspaper column predicting that Belichick would be a failure as coach of the Patriots based on his stint in Cleveland. The fact that O’Connor was so wrong served as inspiration to discover the hows and whys of his incredible success.
The early years of Belichick’s coaching career followed a traditional and familiar path. Upon graduation from college, Billy, as he was called in his first job, became an unpaid assistant with the Baltimore Colts. Steve Belichick, Bill’s father, had many friends in football coaching, which helped land him a spot with Ted Marchibroda in his first year coaching the Colts. While connections are helpful in any job, Belichick took advantage of this opportunity to immerse himself in every aspect of coaching. It was soon obvious to everyone that once he was put in a room to do a job, you would not see him until the job was done. Perhaps most important, as one veteran player observed, “I don’t remember him spending a lot of time or energy going out of his way to attach himself with the players. He didn’t find any pressure to be liked.”
Moving smoothly up the coaching ladder and having outgrown the despised “Billy” moniker, Belichick was the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants with two Super Bowl victories to his credit when he was named the head coach of the Cleveland Browns in 1985. Browns owner Art Modell was sold on the 38-year-old after recommendations from many coaches and from Bob Knight, who met Belichick through his coaching friends at West Point. Belichick had a plan, the Modell family believed, “not like the other guys in the past.”
While an argument regarding his Cleveland tenure can be an exhausting fan debate, it was there where some of Belichick’s most questionable coaching practices were honed. He believed in frequent and physical practices, and constructed a wall of secrecy around himself and his players. To this day, his truncated monosyllabic repeated answers at press conferences are a great source of material for ESPN, YouTube and Twitter.
Belichick’s tremendous success in New England is already well-known to both fans and detractors. I will let them debate his qualities elsewhere, but they are well-detailed in O’Connor’s book. I prefer to conclude this review with mention of the final chapter titled “Human Bill.” It opens with the question “Is Belichick really as big a prick as he seems?” The answer is no. There are countless stories of kindness, charitable donations to worthy causes that go unpublicized, and generosity to players. My favorite is Belichick giving punter Josh Miller a copy of WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS, the book of children’s poetry that my wife and I also give as a baby gift. All I need now is a handful of Super Bowl rings to have something else in common with possibly professional football’s greatest coach.
Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman
As O’Connor points out, many of the greatest coaches in the history of sports carried some baggage acquired during their exemplary careers. In basketball, John Wooden, Bobby Knight and Rick Pitino are cheered for their NCAA championships but are also remembered for personal shortcomings. Many great baseball managers in the steroid era proudly wear World Series rings along with the scar of casting a blind eye to their players’ use of performance-enhancing chemicals. Belichick’s championships with the New England Patriots will always provoke discussions that focus on illegal filming of opposing coaches’ signals and “Deflategate.” This biography is O’Connor’s attempt to unravel the mystery of the man. In 2000, he wrote a newspaper column predicting that Belichick would be a failure as coach of the Patriots based on his stint in Cleveland. The fact that O’Connor was so wrong served as inspiration to discover the hows and whys of his incredible success.
The early years of Belichick’s coaching career followed a traditional and familiar path. Upon graduation from college, Billy, as he was called in his first job, became an unpaid assistant with the Baltimore Colts. Steve Belichick, Bill’s father, had many friends in football coaching, which helped land him a spot with Ted Marchibroda in his first year coaching the Colts. While connections are helpful in any job, Belichick took advantage of this opportunity to immerse himself in every aspect of coaching. It was soon obvious to everyone that once he was put in a room to do a job, you would not see him until the job was done. Perhaps most important, as one veteran player observed, “I don’t remember him spending a lot of time or energy going out of his way to attach himself with the players. He didn’t find any pressure to be liked.”
Moving smoothly up the coaching ladder and having outgrown the despised “Billy” moniker, Belichick was the defensive coordinator for the New York Giants with two Super Bowl victories to his credit when he was named the head coach of the Cleveland Browns in 1985. Browns owner Art Modell was sold on the 38-year-old after recommendations from many coaches and from Bob Knight, who met Belichick through his coaching friends at West Point. Belichick had a plan, the Modell family believed, “not like the other guys in the past.”
While an argument regarding his Cleveland tenure can be an exhausting fan debate, it was there where some of Belichick’s most questionable coaching practices were honed. He believed in frequent and physical practices, and constructed a wall of secrecy around himself and his players. To this day, his truncated monosyllabic repeated answers at press conferences are a great source of material for ESPN, YouTube and Twitter.
Belichick’s tremendous success in New England is already well-known to both fans and detractors. I will let them debate his qualities elsewhere, but they are well-detailed in O’Connor’s book. I prefer to conclude this review with mention of the final chapter titled “Human Bill.” It opens with the question “Is Belichick really as big a prick as he seems?” The answer is no. There are countless stories of kindness, charitable donations to worthy causes that go unpublicized, and generosity to players. My favorite is Belichick giving punter Josh Miller a copy of WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS, the book of children’s poetry that my wife and I also give as a baby gift. All I need now is a handful of Super Bowl rings to have something else in common with possibly professional football’s greatest coach.
Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman
June 8, 2019
(3.5 Stars) This work attempts to provide the biography to date about one of the greatest, and most mysterious, head coaches in football history. O’Connor relies on various sources (but not a lot of interaction with the man himself) to get insight into the life and actions of the man who went from being the son of a renowned coach, to protégée of a legendary coach, to a failed first experiment to getting his chance to not only coach again, but through planning and some luck, emerge to become one of the top coaches of not just the NFL, but of any sport.
While there is a lot in here about the upbringing of the man, and O’Connor does about as well as can be expected to bring to life a man who is very protective of his privacy, there still seems to be a lot unknown about the man. The author will go on some various tangents about matters related to Belichick and the Patriots, but perhaps spends too much time on those contextual matters and not enough on the man. The personal side is still a mystery, even after reading this book (then again, given the public nature of the coaching job, detailed interviews with family and close friends are not always forthcoming).
Overall Belichick is very much a man who matches his reputation, even if he has a few surprises. He is all business with football and in many cases, does have the respect of players and coaches. Yet, he can be incredibly petty and bitter, with slights evolving into long-standing feuds that may or may not ever resolve. Of note, this book was written after the controversial loss to the Eagles in SuperBowl LII, when his decision to bench starter Malcolm Butler came under fire after the Eagles torched his defense in an 8 point loss. There was a great deal of grumbling and questioning of the man and his methods. As a result, the book seemed to be reflecting a swan song of the great coach, one whose time had finally run out. Yet, I was reading this book in the months after Super Bowl LIII, when Belichick, Brady and the Patriots are coming off of their biggest (by margin of victory) Super Bowl win and their sixth overall. So long as Brady is healthy as the QB, and Belichick can still get the most out of his defense and players, they will be perennial contenders for the title.
For the football fan, worth a read, but I would not exactly take this to be the final word about the coach. For that, I feel you will have to wait for a long time to get that picture, especially since the subject is in no mood to offer his own insight anytime soon.
While there is a lot in here about the upbringing of the man, and O’Connor does about as well as can be expected to bring to life a man who is very protective of his privacy, there still seems to be a lot unknown about the man. The author will go on some various tangents about matters related to Belichick and the Patriots, but perhaps spends too much time on those contextual matters and not enough on the man. The personal side is still a mystery, even after reading this book (then again, given the public nature of the coaching job, detailed interviews with family and close friends are not always forthcoming).
Overall Belichick is very much a man who matches his reputation, even if he has a few surprises. He is all business with football and in many cases, does have the respect of players and coaches. Yet, he can be incredibly petty and bitter, with slights evolving into long-standing feuds that may or may not ever resolve. Of note, this book was written after the controversial loss to the Eagles in SuperBowl LII, when his decision to bench starter Malcolm Butler came under fire after the Eagles torched his defense in an 8 point loss. There was a great deal of grumbling and questioning of the man and his methods. As a result, the book seemed to be reflecting a swan song of the great coach, one whose time had finally run out. Yet, I was reading this book in the months after Super Bowl LIII, when Belichick, Brady and the Patriots are coming off of their biggest (by margin of victory) Super Bowl win and their sixth overall. So long as Brady is healthy as the QB, and Belichick can still get the most out of his defense and players, they will be perennial contenders for the title.
For the football fan, worth a read, but I would not exactly take this to be the final word about the coach. For that, I feel you will have to wait for a long time to get that picture, especially since the subject is in no mood to offer his own insight anytime soon.
February 2, 2021
This is a detailed accounting of the greatest coach in NFL history. It is not as good of a book as David Halberstam's "The Education of a Coach," but it provides a more complete picture of Belichick's career.
The most interesting parts for me was the development of his coaching style over the years, from his time in New York with the football Giants, his first head coaching gig, until his extended stay with my hometown Patriots. He has developed in the way he treats his players. An updated accounting for his treatment of racial injustice within his locker room, as players have raved about his handling of this in the offseason leading into the strange 2021 season. It goes against the Trump sections of this book.
As a work of journalism O'Conner's use of unnamed sources is suspect in his reporting of turmoil in New England toward the end of Brady's career. The subsequent fall out/moving-on after the books publishing, however, has vindicated the narrative that he presents; so take that as you will.
As a Brady superfan, but also a fan of the great coach, I must say that grattitude is the only acceptable stance for hometown fans. Any book that is predicated on judging Belichick negatively for his roster moves, draft blunders, or harsh demeanor is the least grateful way to look at decades of success. Are the other coaches flawless in the draft? Do they not have to cut down to a 53 man roster? Are there a lot of 20+ year coaches that haven't got some outspoken former players as critics? The only acceptable stance for a Patriots fan is to get on your hands and knees and thank Belichick for the joy he's brought you. For non-fans: hatred is fine.
O'Connor's book has the unenviable task of reporting the good and the bad. But the bad, of course, stands out and feels heavier than the good. Sections on Spygate and Deflate-gate seem to last far longer than the handfuls of super bowl victories. Also, O'Connor, maybe don't call him "Little Bill" for hundreds of pages? Coach Belichick also works you punk! What was that? Write a 500 page book about a coach and refer to him in regards to his position in comparison to Parcells?
But the book deals with much of the positives. His generosity to staff and players over the years. His methods. And Ernie Adams; whom we will never understand, therefore he is the most fascinating man in football.
Hopefully we'll remember some of the positives over the negatives.
The most interesting parts for me was the development of his coaching style over the years, from his time in New York with the football Giants, his first head coaching gig, until his extended stay with my hometown Patriots. He has developed in the way he treats his players. An updated accounting for his treatment of racial injustice within his locker room, as players have raved about his handling of this in the offseason leading into the strange 2021 season. It goes against the Trump sections of this book.
As a work of journalism O'Conner's use of unnamed sources is suspect in his reporting of turmoil in New England toward the end of Brady's career. The subsequent fall out/moving-on after the books publishing, however, has vindicated the narrative that he presents; so take that as you will.
As a Brady superfan, but also a fan of the great coach, I must say that grattitude is the only acceptable stance for hometown fans. Any book that is predicated on judging Belichick negatively for his roster moves, draft blunders, or harsh demeanor is the least grateful way to look at decades of success. Are the other coaches flawless in the draft? Do they not have to cut down to a 53 man roster? Are there a lot of 20+ year coaches that haven't got some outspoken former players as critics? The only acceptable stance for a Patriots fan is to get on your hands and knees and thank Belichick for the joy he's brought you. For non-fans: hatred is fine.
O'Connor's book has the unenviable task of reporting the good and the bad. But the bad, of course, stands out and feels heavier than the good. Sections on Spygate and Deflate-gate seem to last far longer than the handfuls of super bowl victories. Also, O'Connor, maybe don't call him "Little Bill" for hundreds of pages? Coach Belichick also works you punk! What was that? Write a 500 page book about a coach and refer to him in regards to his position in comparison to Parcells?
But the book deals with much of the positives. His generosity to staff and players over the years. His methods. And Ernie Adams; whom we will never understand, therefore he is the most fascinating man in football.
Hopefully we'll remember some of the positives over the negatives.
February 15, 2021
To sum up Belichick's football career and everything around it in just over 500 pages must've been a Herculean task, and will probably later be edited to give us all the details on the Patriots' sixth ring and the divorce between Tom Brady and New England.
"I'm telling you... Get away from the media thing and know Bill" were the words of one of Belichick's coaching staff members and this is precisely what this book does. This unauthorized biography gives you an insight into how Belichick was a winning coach before actually being one, how the planets aligned to give him a franchise willing to give him full confidence to call the shots and a quarterback in Tom Brady that signified someone now being called the GOAT of the sport but that was taken with the 199th pick and was massively underpaid just to keep doing good for his organization.
The experience of reading this book and getting familiar with the particular character that Bill Belichick is, gives you an emotional twist chapter after chapter portraying Belichick as a son, as a father, as a coach, as the biggest SOB, as an off the media charitable guy and ultimately as a human. We all love portrayals of the biggest characters in sports as heros, and just as recent Netflix - ESPN documentary The Last Dance helped to better portray Michael Jordan as a human being with flaws instead of the superhero, this book helps you get to stop seeing Bill Belichick as the evil grumpy guy the media shows him to be.
Controversies are a big part of the Patriots dynasty, as it has been with many other sports franchises over the years. The New England Patriots became the New York Yankees in the sense that the more they won, the more fans outside their hometowns wanted them to lose. If not for Belichick and Brady, many NFL players and coaches could've had much more success than they had, including Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Kurt Warner, Matt Ryan, Pete Carroll, among others. But spygate and deflategate, among Aaron Hernández and all those other scandals will always bring questions and asterisks to their dynasty until the end of time.
Ultimately, we all know that Belichick should be unanimously inducted into the Hall of Fame once he becomes eligible, but being the reserved character that he is, it will be difficult to remember Belichick as warmly as other sport figures like Phil Jackson.
"I'm telling you... Get away from the media thing and know Bill" were the words of one of Belichick's coaching staff members and this is precisely what this book does. This unauthorized biography gives you an insight into how Belichick was a winning coach before actually being one, how the planets aligned to give him a franchise willing to give him full confidence to call the shots and a quarterback in Tom Brady that signified someone now being called the GOAT of the sport but that was taken with the 199th pick and was massively underpaid just to keep doing good for his organization.
The experience of reading this book and getting familiar with the particular character that Bill Belichick is, gives you an emotional twist chapter after chapter portraying Belichick as a son, as a father, as a coach, as the biggest SOB, as an off the media charitable guy and ultimately as a human. We all love portrayals of the biggest characters in sports as heros, and just as recent Netflix - ESPN documentary The Last Dance helped to better portray Michael Jordan as a human being with flaws instead of the superhero, this book helps you get to stop seeing Bill Belichick as the evil grumpy guy the media shows him to be.
Controversies are a big part of the Patriots dynasty, as it has been with many other sports franchises over the years. The New England Patriots became the New York Yankees in the sense that the more they won, the more fans outside their hometowns wanted them to lose. If not for Belichick and Brady, many NFL players and coaches could've had much more success than they had, including Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Kurt Warner, Matt Ryan, Pete Carroll, among others. But spygate and deflategate, among Aaron Hernández and all those other scandals will always bring questions and asterisks to their dynasty until the end of time.
Ultimately, we all know that Belichick should be unanimously inducted into the Hall of Fame once he becomes eligible, but being the reserved character that he is, it will be difficult to remember Belichick as warmly as other sport figures like Phil Jackson.
April 8, 2020
Book #3 of the self-isolation bookshelf clean out. This one had been sitting in a stack after I received it as a Christmas gift over a year ago, and I had not been inclined to pick it up because I had the impression that it was going to prevent a pretty slanted view.
In the end, I was pleasantly surprised by how balanced this book was, with a few exceptions. Although the coach himself wasn't interviewed, the author managed to speak with seemingly dozens of players, coaches, and associates to paint a pretty full picture of the coach and his background (though obviously not complete as the book was published before Super Bowl 53 and of course Tom Brady's departure from the Patriots). I found the first half or so of the book - leading up through the early years with the Patriots - pretty illuminating, as articles I have read about Belichick seem to only hint at his background. I came away with a much better understanding of his formative years and the author succeeded in illustrating how Belichick's early experiences came into play in more recent years.
I think, though, that the author chose a strange way to frame Belichick's years with the Patriots, in a way that left some interesting things unexplored. The back half of the book, which focuses on the Patriots tenure, is basically divided into chapters that cover either a Super Bowl-winning season, or a controversy (Spygate, Aaron Hernandez, etc.), and I think the idea that Belichick's legacy is simply "winning Super Bowls and bending the rules" is a reductive, ESPN-centric view of him. These chapters were still interesting, and I learned a fair amount from some of the interviews, but there was a lot of gossip and hearsay leaned on in this part of the book.
Ultimately, I think this is a 2.5-star book, as I found some real value in reading it but do not think I will revisit it. I think a definitive (auto?)biography following Belichick's retirement will be much more complete and insightful.
In the end, I was pleasantly surprised by how balanced this book was, with a few exceptions. Although the coach himself wasn't interviewed, the author managed to speak with seemingly dozens of players, coaches, and associates to paint a pretty full picture of the coach and his background (though obviously not complete as the book was published before Super Bowl 53 and of course Tom Brady's departure from the Patriots). I found the first half or so of the book - leading up through the early years with the Patriots - pretty illuminating, as articles I have read about Belichick seem to only hint at his background. I came away with a much better understanding of his formative years and the author succeeded in illustrating how Belichick's early experiences came into play in more recent years.
I think, though, that the author chose a strange way to frame Belichick's years with the Patriots, in a way that left some interesting things unexplored. The back half of the book, which focuses on the Patriots tenure, is basically divided into chapters that cover either a Super Bowl-winning season, or a controversy (Spygate, Aaron Hernandez, etc.), and I think the idea that Belichick's legacy is simply "winning Super Bowls and bending the rules" is a reductive, ESPN-centric view of him. These chapters were still interesting, and I learned a fair amount from some of the interviews, but there was a lot of gossip and hearsay leaned on in this part of the book.
Ultimately, I think this is a 2.5-star book, as I found some real value in reading it but do not think I will revisit it. I think a definitive (auto?)biography following Belichick's retirement will be much more complete and insightful.
November 14, 2023
Belichick is emotionally stunted.
It sways between examples of him being a good guy and a total sh**.
Great insights on his coaching brilliance, especially game prep and rule bending.
Good on the 2001 - 2004 seasons. Would've liked more on his unrelenting negativity during the brilliant 2007 season. That drive for perfection, the "job not being finished" was always reinforced to a team that was, initially, racing to perfection, only to be worn out and then beat down by a stout Giants team. Did it have a negative effect? Would've liked more on that.
Look, the guy's a d-bag.
Look, the guy has a soft side and has his buddies and people he's been unbelievably generous to.
Is he husband of the year material?
Nothing on the home playoff loss to the Jets.
Nothing on the 2015 season AFC Title game loss to Denver. BB playing against a corpse of Peyton Manning. Could barely move the ball on his team. Keeps going for it late when he could've kicked fgs, gotten ball back, gotten back into fg range. Bad job there.
A funny thing on his brilliance. If:
- Carroll calls a run play and they score in'15.
- If the Falcons, you know, in '17...don't call a pass on 3rd and 1 up 16. Run 3 times after Jones great catch, up 8. Etc. etc.
.....then he probably ends up 4-4 in SBs....But:
- if Pats don't blow 21-3 lead vs. Colts in '07
- if Pats could've beaten corpse of Peyton/Denver in '16
......then they probably win titles those years so, whatever.
Interesting reading now as things are, how do you say, no bueno, for the suddenly small time Patsies.
It sways between examples of him being a good guy and a total sh**.
Great insights on his coaching brilliance, especially game prep and rule bending.
Good on the 2001 - 2004 seasons. Would've liked more on his unrelenting negativity during the brilliant 2007 season. That drive for perfection, the "job not being finished" was always reinforced to a team that was, initially, racing to perfection, only to be worn out and then beat down by a stout Giants team. Did it have a negative effect? Would've liked more on that.
Look, the guy's a d-bag.
Look, the guy has a soft side and has his buddies and people he's been unbelievably generous to.
Is he husband of the year material?
Nothing on the home playoff loss to the Jets.
Nothing on the 2015 season AFC Title game loss to Denver. BB playing against a corpse of Peyton Manning. Could barely move the ball on his team. Keeps going for it late when he could've kicked fgs, gotten ball back, gotten back into fg range. Bad job there.
A funny thing on his brilliance. If:
- Carroll calls a run play and they score in'15.
- If the Falcons, you know, in '17...don't call a pass on 3rd and 1 up 16. Run 3 times after Jones great catch, up 8. Etc. etc.
.....then he probably ends up 4-4 in SBs....But:
- if Pats don't blow 21-3 lead vs. Colts in '07
- if Pats could've beaten corpse of Peyton/Denver in '16
......then they probably win titles those years so, whatever.
Interesting reading now as things are, how do you say, no bueno, for the suddenly small time Patsies.
September 12, 2019
This is an extensively detailed study of Belichick's life pretty much up to his Patriot days.
It was frequently too anal for me to stay the course, as it were, and I never did see a reasonable analysis of how the coach might have prepared his team for, say, their 6th Super Bowl championship, shutting down the Rams' high-powered offense nearly completely. The book does not actually get that far, but, outside of watching and cutting film, little is offered analytically save the exceptional results.
If you are interested in the "cheating" element of "the Patriot Way," there is plenty here to satisfy you. This summer (2019) when agents of the US Women's soccer team were caught flitting about the English team's hotel, I assumed the US coach had taken a page out of Belichick's book: NFL opponents warn their players to leave nothing regarding game plans, no play books, etc, lying around in their hotel or locker room or thrown away when playing the Patriots. Paranoia or practical experience? Well, the results of the games may speak for themselves. The US women got caught, but nothing came of it. In the NFL, parity is the byword.
Unfortunately, there is Belichick, tipping the scales.
It was frequently too anal for me to stay the course, as it were, and I never did see a reasonable analysis of how the coach might have prepared his team for, say, their 6th Super Bowl championship, shutting down the Rams' high-powered offense nearly completely. The book does not actually get that far, but, outside of watching and cutting film, little is offered analytically save the exceptional results.
If you are interested in the "cheating" element of "the Patriot Way," there is plenty here to satisfy you. This summer (2019) when agents of the US Women's soccer team were caught flitting about the English team's hotel, I assumed the US coach had taken a page out of Belichick's book: NFL opponents warn their players to leave nothing regarding game plans, no play books, etc, lying around in their hotel or locker room or thrown away when playing the Patriots. Paranoia or practical experience? Well, the results of the games may speak for themselves. The US women got caught, but nothing came of it. In the NFL, parity is the byword.
Unfortunately, there is Belichick, tipping the scales.
Currently reading
September 26, 2019As of this review I am on page 33
Bill Belichick was born into a football family. His father, Steve Belichick was a coach at the Naval academy. Young Bill learned from the Naval players to respect your elders and work hard. In high school Bill was a standout center and played defense in lacrosse. Bill studied football 24/7 from a young age and perfected his craft of snapping the ball.
Up to where I am currently the main characters have been Bill, his father Steve Belichick and his mother Jeanette Belichick. Steve was a football coach who instilled in his son a love for the game of football. Jeanette taught her boy to work hard and she herself was very knowledgeable about football like her husband and son.
This book goes very in depth into Bill’s life before he was the coach of the New England Patriots. It talks a lot about his fathers coaching career and Bills childhood. You can tell that the author conducted a lot of interviews to put this book together. One thing I didn’t like is that the background information about his father and childhood dragged on a little longer then it needed to in my opinion.
Bill Belichick was born into a football family. His father, Steve Belichick was a coach at the Naval academy. Young Bill learned from the Naval players to respect your elders and work hard. In high school Bill was a standout center and played defense in lacrosse. Bill studied football 24/7 from a young age and perfected his craft of snapping the ball.
Up to where I am currently the main characters have been Bill, his father Steve Belichick and his mother Jeanette Belichick. Steve was a football coach who instilled in his son a love for the game of football. Jeanette taught her boy to work hard and she herself was very knowledgeable about football like her husband and son.
This book goes very in depth into Bill’s life before he was the coach of the New England Patriots. It talks a lot about his fathers coaching career and Bills childhood. You can tell that the author conducted a lot of interviews to put this book together. One thing I didn’t like is that the background information about his father and childhood dragged on a little longer then it needed to in my opinion.
February 8, 2019
The title of this book is misleading. This isn't so much about the making of Bill Belichick as it is about his success.
The Education of a Coach is a better "making of" book. That book had more background on his upbringing, his father, and his early years. It was published in 2006, so there wasn't as much to work with.
This book sort of breezes through childhood and his early jobs. It starts getting more filled in when we get to the Giants. And that makes sense since the author was not able to talk to the Coach or any people very close to him. We start to get more info when he has a bigger platform and there are more tertiary people that would be interviewed for this book.
Once we get to more modern football, the book starts to read like a collection of long-form articles. Some background information is repeated in each chapter as if it could be a stand alone piece that required some background.
This is a great way to relive some of the highs from the Patriots and there is some not so mainstream information in here.
The Education of a Coach is a better "making of" book. That book had more background on his upbringing, his father, and his early years. It was published in 2006, so there wasn't as much to work with.
This book sort of breezes through childhood and his early jobs. It starts getting more filled in when we get to the Giants. And that makes sense since the author was not able to talk to the Coach or any people very close to him. We start to get more info when he has a bigger platform and there are more tertiary people that would be interviewed for this book.
Once we get to more modern football, the book starts to read like a collection of long-form articles. Some background information is repeated in each chapter as if it could be a stand alone piece that required some background.
This is a great way to relive some of the highs from the Patriots and there is some not so mainstream information in here.
November 4, 2023
Not the Greatest After All
What this book gave me is a look into who really Bill is. With the mess that's going on in New England this season and the Brady chapter closed with new QB records made and a Superbowl won outside New England, you just have to ask —is Bill really the best? Probably and could have had more accolades. Bill could have had more Super Bowl rings had he became more objective as a coach can possibly be. Malcom Butler benched. Tom Brady closing his career in Tampa. The loss to the Giants, the Eagles. It was all on him. It is what it is.
I am rating this book as three because it dragged for so long. I knew most of the things mentioned as I have closely followed the Patriots because of Brady. I got some insider value though but not enough as a four. These kind of books are not just for history to me. These are ideally a source of insight and wisdom from the experiences they share. I just don't know if I got much of that here. If you closely followed the Pastriots, this book just recalls much of our experiences as fans and a couple of chapters on Bill's life.
You can read this book if you want to extend your knowledge about Bill and the Patriots. This feels like going for a touchdown when you're way up and have already won by a margin.
What this book gave me is a look into who really Bill is. With the mess that's going on in New England this season and the Brady chapter closed with new QB records made and a Superbowl won outside New England, you just have to ask —is Bill really the best? Probably and could have had more accolades. Bill could have had more Super Bowl rings had he became more objective as a coach can possibly be. Malcom Butler benched. Tom Brady closing his career in Tampa. The loss to the Giants, the Eagles. It was all on him. It is what it is.
I am rating this book as three because it dragged for so long. I knew most of the things mentioned as I have closely followed the Patriots because of Brady. I got some insider value though but not enough as a four. These kind of books are not just for history to me. These are ideally a source of insight and wisdom from the experiences they share. I just don't know if I got much of that here. If you closely followed the Pastriots, this book just recalls much of our experiences as fans and a couple of chapters on Bill's life.
You can read this book if you want to extend your knowledge about Bill and the Patriots. This feels like going for a touchdown when you're way up and have already won by a margin.
April 2, 2019
The novel Belichick by Ian O'Connor is a fabulous book. The biography of the NFL’s most brilliant coach Bill Belichick is perhaps the most fascinating coach in the NFL. Bill is apart of the most winningest franchises in sports. The setting of the book Belichick is wonderful because it is set in the music city of Nashville Tennessee. Bill made many new friends who he had met in the city of Nashville. While Bill lived in the music city he went to every one of the local country concerts. His favorite artist at the time was Dwight Yoakam. The conflict of the book Belichick is that Bills dad abuses him and is always rude to Bill. When Bill would lose his football game his dad would call him worthless. When Bill says or does something wrong his father whips him. But this motivated Bill to be the person he is today, a 7 time Super Bowl champion.
December 1, 2020
Really enjoyed this book. I finished it this summer. I wished I would have written my review after reading. I guess I need to get back to using goodreads again. It has been awhile. This book did a great job of showing whom Bill Belichick is as a coach. You get to see what makes him tick and how he become the greatest NFL coach of all time. He was almost would have never happened, but a freak play against the Jets happened, and in comes Brady to take over, and the rest is history. He is probably fired shortly after that game, but Brady comes in and turns the season around, Bill's actual choice for his quarterback then. I loved this book. It showed the NFL when I most watched it. Every big football fan whom loves the stories behind winners must read. This is not a kiss butt book either, but an explanation and revealing what makes Belichick tick.
August 29, 2023
I believe the words to describe this book are "stretched out". The book starts off great, giving a very in depth summary of Belichick's early life. As the book goes into his career with the Giants, the book starts to cool down. I read the book cover to cover, and I believe it really could have been kept under 1000 pages. After the Giants chapter, unnecessary details were thrown in, and the book transitioned into the New England Patriots' franchise and dynasty instead of the life and success of Bill Belichick. However, the book gave me a deeper understanding of Bill Belichick's genius football mind. From a lacrosse player to the greatest coach of all time is quite the story, and a great experience to read. All in all, although the book seems stretched out, it can be quite the read for a football fan!
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