Brian’s Back: Patriots Retain Belichick Son on Mayo Staff
FOXBORO — It appears that the New England Patriots will be employing a Belichick on their coaching staff in 2024, after all.
Capping an eventful day in Foxboro, the Pats (per ESPN’s Mike Reiss) revealed late Wednesday evening their intention to retain the services of safeties coach Brian Belichick — son of legendary former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick — for the upcoming season.
New England Patriots Safeties Coach Brian Belichick
Cred: Patriots.com
It will mark Belichick's ninth year with the Patriots, having begun his pro career as a scouting assistant (2016) — his first and only year working in the front office. He joined the Pats’ coaching staff in 2017, assisting primarily with film breakdowns during the team's Super Bowl LI-winning playoff run before transitioning to a coaching assistant role the following season. Belichick served as a coaching assistant through the 2019 season before being promoted to Safeties Coach in 2020 — a position previously held by his elder brother Stephen. During that stretch, he won his first Super Bowl title when the Patriots defeated the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII.
In three of his four seasons at the helm, the Pats defense ranked among the NFL’s top three in interceptions, with safeties Devin McCourty, Kyle Dugger, Adrian Phillips and Jabrill Peppers all playing major roles in that feat. Despite some ebb and flow within their corps of cornerbacks, the Pats safeties are collectively and routinely considered among the top positional groups in the league.
While Belichick’s return to the team is a bit surprising, it should not come as a blatant shock. Newly-minted Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo — who was named as his father’s successor just one day after he and team owner Robert Kraft “mutually and amicably” agreed to part ways after 24 years — worked closely with the younger Belichick during their time as assistants on New England's defensive staff.
Shortly after ascending to his current role, Mayo referred to Belichick as a "great coach," while offering both him and his brother the chance to remain with the Patriots. Stephen, on Monday, agreed to become the University of Washington’s defensive coordinator, ending his tenure in New England.
While his official job title has yet to be confirmed, it is expected that Belichick will continue to work with the safeties under new defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington.
The Patriots also reached agreements with former Cleveland Browns assistant coaches T.C. McCartney (quarterbacks coach) and Scott Peters (offensive line coach) to join new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt, offensive assistant coach Ben McAdoo, defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery, special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer and Covington on Mayo’s staff.
