Year 24: What's Left to Motivate Patriots Coach Bill Belichick?
By any statistic, Bill Belichick is the greatest coach in the history of the NFL.
But from any perspective, the New England Patriots' icon had a horrible season in 2022.
From turning the offensive reins over to the defensive "genius" of Matt Patricia, to agreeing to streamline - i.e., "dumb down" - the playbook to woefully mishandling Mac Jones' injury and Bailey Zappe's rise into a full-blown quarterback controversy, Belichick's 23rd season in Foxboro was one of his worst.
As he turns 71 next month, it's fair to wonder what drives Belichick these days.
Let's face it, winning Super Bowl XLVIII next February in Las Vegas is a longshot at best. Even if the Pats stay out of their own way, it's unlikely they'll get out of their own division. Last season they went 8-9 and missed the playoffs by one game, thanks to a Lunatic Lateral against the Raiders and Rhamondre Stevenson's late fumble that thwarted a Christmas Eve comeback against the Bengals. This season's schedule features games against both Super Bowl XLVII teams and the AFC East will include the dominant Bills, a Dolphins team improved by free-agent cornerback Jalen Ramsey and, perhaps, Aaron Rodgers with the Jets.
Sure, Bill wants to win another title. And he'd obviously love to mute the critics (guilty) that keep pointing out his lack of success without a guy named Tom Brady. But ... might his carrot of motivation be even bigger?
Say, breaking the record for the most wins in pro football history?
Belichick's Super-Bowl record six wins seems safe. Of active coaches, only Kansas City's Andy Reid (two) has won more than one and he turned 65 earlier this month.
As for the all-time mark for wins: Belichick, who passed George Halas last season to move in second place, trails Don Shula by 19. Even with mediocre, .500-ish teams, he'll get his record 330th victory early in 2025. If the Pats can win 10 games in back-to-back seasons, he'll earn the milestone as soon as 2024.
Belichick is a legend. A no-brainer Hall of Famer. Alas, he still has goals.
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