Patriots coach Bill Belichick walks back ‘last 25 years’ comment
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick made the wrong kind of headlines, following Monday’s media scrum at the NFL annual meeting.
When speaking with media members, Belichick was asked why fans should feel optimistic about the team’s chances in 2023.
“The last 25 years,” Belichick replied, bluntly.
That response stirred a hornets nest with some taking a disliking to what he said, including former Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi, who accused his former coach of being “off-message.”
On Wednesday, Belichick clarified those comments during an appearance at LSU’s Pro Day.
“We’re not resting on our past laurels; that’s not the message to the team or the fans,” said Belichick, according to the Boston Globe’s Jim McBride. “We have never operated that way and aren’t now.”
Per McBride, Belichick “indicated he was answering the question from a fan’s perspective.” That definitely appears to be the case because anything else would have been completely out of character for the legendary coach, who is notorious for staying in the present and not leaning on past accomplishments.
This is what happens when you’re a no-nonsense coach like Belichick. Even when he’s joking, the whole world thinks he’s being serious.
