NFL TV Experts: New England Patriots' Bill Belichick Will Be 'Great' Analyst
Whether New England Patriots fans like it or not, Bill Belichick can't coach the team forever.
At 71, Belichick is the second-oldest coach in the NFL behind only Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks. He also doesn't have much left to prove with eight Super Bowl rings, two as a defensive coordinator with the New York Giants and six with New England. Despite criticism ramping up in recent years, Belichick still has a strong argument for being the greatest coach in NFL history.
But what would Belichick do after retirement? It's a question that hasn't been asked much, but considering how many of his former players are now working on television, could Belichick himself wind up in the studio? According to NFL Network's Peter Schrager, Belichick would have a future in broadcasting if he chooses to pursue it.
“Belichick is super, super engaging with those he talks to," Schrager told Front Office Sports. "He knows the history of the game inside and out. There’s a little Belichick tree of media guys. You better believe they all say, ‘If you really got to know Bill, you’d look at him in a different way. Or if you heard him in a meeting he’s hilarious. Or Bill is the smartest guy. If Belichick ever wanted to do this, I would be a captive audience to listen to him on one of these shows. He’d be great.”
Bill Belichick ready to head back to the TV booth?
Schrager isn't the only analyst who sees Belichick's broadcasting potential. Jamie Erdahl, Schrager's colleague on Good Morning Football, says that past his cold exterior, Belichick has a fantastic analytical mind.
“Sometimes the delivery is gruff — or he doesn’t want to get into the game side of it. But his takes on other things in life, I think, are tremendous,” Erdahl said.
Belichick in such a role isn't entirely unprecedented. The longtime Patriots boss was nominated for the Sports Emmy category of "Outstanding Sports Personality - Studio Analyst" for his work on NFL Network's NFL 100 All-Time Team, and while he didn't win the award, the show itself did win one.
If Belichick were to head to the studio, he'd follow in the footsteps of other accomplished coaches such as Bill Cowher, Tony Dungy and Jimmy Johnson. As strange as it may be to imagine Belichick in the studio, it certainly seems like a possibility once he inevitably hangs up the headset.
