All due respect to your expertise of the NFL, but Bill Belichick worked his ass off in the league for 20 years before he even went to New England.
Early coaching positions
After graduating, Belichick took a $25-per-week job as an assistant to Baltimore Colts head coach Ted Marchibroda in 1975. ( he missed being Johnny Unitas' coach by 2 years) In
1976, he joined the
Detroit Lions as their assistant special teams coach before adding
tight ends and
wide receivers to his coaching duties in
1977.
[23] He spent the
1978 season with the
Denver Broncos as their assistant special teams coach and defensive assistant.
[24]
New York Giants (1979–1990)
In
1979, Belichick began a 12-year stint with the
New York Giants alongside head coach
Ray Perkins as a defensive assistant and special teams coach.
[25] He added
linebackers coaching to his duties in
1980 and was named defensive coordinator in
1985 under head coach
Bill Parcells, who had replaced Perkins in 1983. The Giants won
Super Bowl XXI and
Super Bowl XXV following the 1986 and 1990 seasons.
[26][27] His defensive game plan from the
New York Giants' 20–19 upset of the
Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV has been placed in the
Pro Football Hall of Fame.
[28]
Cleveland Browns (1991–1995)
From 1991 until 1995, Belichick was the head coach of the
Cleveland Browns. During his tenure in Cleveland, he compiled a 36–44 record, leading the team to the playoffs in 1994, his only winning year with the team.
[29] Coincidentally, his one playoff victory during his Browns tenure was achieved against the
New England Patriots, who were coached by former Giants head coach Bill Parcells, in the
Wild Card Round during that postseason.
[30] In Belichick's last season in Cleveland, the Browns finished 5–11, despite starting 3–1.
[31] One of his most controversial moves was cutting quarterback
Bernie Kosar midway through the 1993 season. Kosar was signed by the
Dallas Cowboys two days later and won a Super Bowl with the Cowboys in
Super Bowl XXVIII. In November 1995, in the middle of the ongoing football season, Browns owner
Art Modell had announced he would move his franchise to
Baltimore after the season.
[32] After first being given assurances that he would coach the new team that would later become the
Baltimore Ravens, Belichick was instead fired on February 14, 1996, one week after the shift was officially announced.
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