Instruct: Given a question, retrieve documents that can help answer the question.
Query: Who is Bill Belichick?
William Stephen Belichick (/ˈbɛlɪtʃɪk/; born April 16, 1952) is the head coach of the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). Belichick has extensive authority over the Patriots' football operations, effectively making him the general manager of the team as well.[1] He holds numerous coaching records, including winning a record five Super Bowls as a head coach, and two more as an assistant coach.
Belichick later issued the following statement:
However, many were shocked with Belichick's release of Milloy, whose job safety at the time seemed more secure than Brady's. The Patriots lost their season opener to the Buffalo Bills, who signed Milloy days earlier, 31-0. It would be the biggest loss of the Brady/Belichick era. What followed has been called one of the most successful two year stretches by a team in NFL history. The Patriots lost just three more games in 2003 and 2004 combined, culminating in back-to-back Super Bowl victories (Super Bowls XXXVIII and XXXIX). In 2004, they set the then-NFL record for consecutive victories, from Week 5, 2003 through Week 6, 2004.
The team was made up of college and professional football players who were serving in the Navy and stationed at Great Lakes NTS. The team was led on offense by Bruce Smith, who won the Heisman Trophy in 1941 while playing for Minnesota. Other players included: Rudy Mucha, a consensus All-American center in 1940 who spent the 1941 season in the NFL, Bob Sweiger (fullback, Minnesota), Pete Kmetovic (halfback, Stanford), Bill Radovich (guard, USC/Detroit Lions), Carl Mulleneaux (end, Utah State), and Steve Belichick, father of Bill Belichick who played for the Detroit Lions in 1941.
Bill Belichick has worked under five head coaches:
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.[19] 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 Bowls following the 1986 and 1990 seasons.[20] His defensive game plan from the New York Giants' 20–19 upset of the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV is now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.[21]
Belichick was married to Debby Clarke, but they divorced in the summer of 2006.[96] They allegedly separated before the 2004 season, which was disclosed by the Patriots in July 2005. Belichick was also accused of maintaining a relationship with former Giants receptionist Sharon Shenocca, which helped precipitate her divorce.[97] Belichick was seen with Linda Holliday of Jupiter, Florida several times in Arizona during the week leading up to Super Bowl XLII.[98]
According to many writers and analysts, the culture that Bill Belichick upheld in New England, dubbed the "Patriot Way", helped to sustain the success the Patriots have enjoyed. Belichick has been known to be very punctual and attentive to detail in order to win. Players such as Brady, All-Pro tight end Rob Gronkowski, and longtime Patriot Julian Edelman are players who are known to keep the culture around New England alive. For example, Brady has consistently taken pay cuts, despite his elite performance.
Johnson was drafted by the New York Giants in the second round of the 1986 NFL Draft. With the Giants, he was a member of both the Super Bowl XXI and Super Bowl XXV-winning teams, under head coach Bill Parcells and assistant Bill Belichick. After seven seasons in New York, Johnson re-joined Belichick with the Cleveland Browns in 1993, Belichick's third season as the team's head coach. After the 1995 season, the Browns moved to Baltimore, Maryland, and neither Belichick nor Johnson followed the team there. Johnson instead joined the Detroit Lions, whom he spent one season with 1996. For what would become the final two seasons of his career, Johnson again re-joined Belichick, who was then serving as the defensive coordinator for the New York Jets under Parcells. After the 1998 season, Johnson retired from the NFL with career totals of 25.5 sacks, 12 forced fumbles, 14 interceptions, and had 983 tackles.
Similarly, Belichick paid several visits to former University of Florida head coach Urban Meyer.[93] Meyer considers himself a protégé of Belichick and has tried to emulate Belichick's success at New England.[94] Former Rutgers University head coach Greg Schiano had been an annual visitor to New England Patriots' minicamps prior to becoming the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Schiano has consulted with Belichick on a variety of topics, most notably defense.[95]
The Tom Brady and Bill Belichick era, as commonly referred to by sports writers and fans, is the sports dynasty formed by quarterback Tom Brady and coach Bill Belichick, who have led the New England Patriots in the National Football League (NFL) since 2000. The dynasty has also been referred to as the "Patriot Dynasty".
All of the teams are or were coached by a first or second generation member of the Bill Parcells coaching tree: the Patriots have Bill Belichick; the Dolphins had Tony Sparano; the Jets had Eric Mangini (who served as an assistant with both Belichick and Parcells); and the Bills had Dick Jauron (fired on November 17, 2009), who served as an assistant with former Parcells assistant Tom Coughlin. The Jets were coached by Todd Bowles (2015-2018) and the Bills were coached by Rex Ryan for 31 games (the entire 2015-16 season, and he was fired before the last game of the 2016-17 season and replaced with interim Head Coach Anthony Lynn). Parcells himself coached the Patriots (1993–96) and the Jets (1997–99) and was Vice President of Football Operations for the Dolphins until the summer of 2010.
In September 2011, a two-hour documentary following Belichick through the entire 2009 season was aired as the first two episodes of the NFL Network documentary series A Football Life. According to NFL Network, the premiere was the most-watched documentary in the history of the NFL Network, and the second-most watched broadcast in the Boston media market, beating all the broadcast networks, and finishing second only to a Boston Red Sox game.[110] Belichick had a cameo appearance in an episode of the Denis Leary drama Rescue Me as a mourner at a funeral, alongside former Boston Bruin Phil Esposito. In the Madden NFL video game series, his name is not used because he is not a member of the NFL Coaches Association, which licenses the game. Belichick is the only NFL head coach who has chosen not to join the association. Belichick is well known as a fan of the rock band Bon Jovi, who visited Patriots training camp on August 14, 2006.[111][112] Their 2002 song "Bounce" is dedicated to Belichick.[113] In a 2012 interview, Star Wars novelist Drew Karpyshyn named Belichick the NFL personality most likely to become a Sith.[114] "Stealing signals in the Super Bowl? Total Sith move. The guy is always looking for every advantage; he's cunning and crafty and amoral. That may sound like an insult, but I'd love to have him coaching [my favorite team] the Chargers." A Song of Ice and Fire author George R.R. Martin has mentioned Belichick and the Patriots in his interviews and in his work. In the Family Guy episode "3 Acts of God" it is revealed that God won't let the New England Patriots win games because Belichick never smiles.[115] The 2008 South Park episode "Eek, a Penis!" deals with fallout from the 2007 National Football League videotaping controversy. Belichick's "We're on to Cincinnati" press conference during the 2014 season is spoofed by comedian Frank Caliendo.[116] A glowering Belichick is featured in the 3rd episode of the 28th season of The Simpsons entitled "The Town" 2016
Eight of Belichick's assistant coaches have become NFL head coaches:
Steve Belichick was the youngest of five children born to Marija Barković and Ivan Biličić, who immigrated to the United States in 1897 from Draganić, Karlovac, Croatia and settled in Pennsylvania. After their marriage, the couple changed their names legally to Mary and John Belichick, reportedly at the suggestion of Immigration Center. In 1924, the family moved to Struthers, Ohio, where Steve Belichick maintained strong ties with the local Croatian community. In 1951, he married Jeannette Ruth Munn, with whom he had one child, Bill. Their son is currently the head coach of the New England Patriots and has cited his father, with whom he began analyzing game film at the age of 10, as his chief early influence.
The Patriots began the 2014 season with a rough 2-2 record, including an embarrassing loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 4. Many sports writers were beginning to call for the end of the Patriots dynasty, which had not won a Super Bowl in a decade. The media asked Bill Belichick if he would “reevaluate the quarterback position”. The only response from Belichick was a slight chuckle. In that same interview, Belichick had his infamous “We’re on to Cincinnati” rant. Writers and media commentators also questioned the disastrous play of an aging Tom Brady, who was 37. However, Brady and the Patriots bounced back and went 10-2 down the stretch to finish the season 12-4. After coming back from two 14 point deficits to beat the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round, the Patriots routed the Indianapolis Colts 45-7 in the AFC Championship game, giving them their 6th Super Bowl appearance since 2001.
Before coming to New England, Belichick had an 11-year stint with the New York Giants from 1979–1990. During this period, he was the defensive coordinator during the Giants' 20-19 victory over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV. Bill Belichick came to the New England Patriots in 1996 to serve as assistant head coach and defensive backs coach for Bill Parcells. The Patriots went 11-5 and earned a trip to Super Bowl XXXI, but fell to Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers. Belichick subsequently served as assistant head coach and defensive coordinator for the New York Jets. When their head coach, Bill Parcells, retired in 1999, Belichick resigned as his successor and went to New England, this time as their head coach. In his 18-year tenure in New England, the Patriots have missed the playoffs only three times: 2000 (5-11), 2002 (9-7), and 2008 (11-5). In 2008, Belichick coached the Patriots to an 11-5 record despite losing franchise quarterback Tom Brady in Week 1 versus the Kansas City Chiefs. However, a series of division tiebreakers put the 11-5 Miami Dolphins as the AFC East champions, making the 2008 Patriots the second team in NFL history to go 11-5 and miss the playoffs.
Bill Belichick was twice named head coach of the Jets but never coached a single game or practice in that capacity. In 1997 he was named head coach for six days before the deal to allow Bill Parcells to leave the New England Patriots for the Jets was brokered, and Belichick became defensive coordinator; then, when Parcells stepped down after the 1999 season Belichick was named to replace him, but resigned the next day. 
In 1992, Pioli was hired as a pro personnel assistant by Bill Belichick, then the head coach of the Cleveland Browns. Pioli's relationship with Belichick dated back to the mid-1980s, when as a student at Central Connecticut, Pioli would drive 90 minutes to the New York Giants training camp. Through a mutual friend, Pioli was introduced to then-Giants defensive coordinator Belichick, who was impressed at Pioli's dedication to travel to each practice and offered him a place to stay.
Belichick began his coaching career in 1975, and by 1985 was the defensive coordinator for New York Giants head coach Bill Parcells. Parcells and Belichick won two Super Bowls together (XXI and XXV) before Belichick left to become the head coach of the Cleveland Browns in 1991. He remained in Cleveland for five seasons, and was fired following the team's 1995 season. Belichick then rejoined Parcells, first in New England, where the team lost Super Bowl XXXI, and later with the New York Jets.
Following the firing of three-year head coach Pete Carroll in January, Patriots owner Bob Kraft pursued Jets assistant head coach Bill Belichick for the Patriots' head coaching vacancy. Belichick, who had been an assistant coach under Bill Parcells with the Patriots in 1997, followed Parcells to the Jets after that season and was contractually named Parcells' successor. A day after the 1999 season, Parcells resigned as head coach of the Jets and made his second retirement from NFL coaching. Belichick, who had been assistant head coach of the Jets, became the Jets' next head coach. The following day, at a press conference for his hiring, Belichick wrote a resignation note on a napkin ("I resign as HC of the NYJ."), and proceeded to give a half-hour resignation speech to the press. Despite rumors that he had been offered the Patriots' vacant head coaching position, Belichick cited the Jets' uncertain ownership situation following the death of owner Leon Hess earlier that year as the reason for his resignation. The Jets denied Belichick permission to speak with other teams, and as had happened in 1997 with Parcells, the NFL upheld Belichick's contractual obligations to the Jets. Belichick then filed an antitrust lawsuit against the NFL in federal court. After Parcells and Kraft, talking for the first time since Parcells' resignation from the Patriots, agreed to settle their differences, the Patriots and Jets agreed to a compensation package to allow Belichick to become the Patriots' head coach. With the deal, the Patriots sent their first-round pick in the 2000 NFL Draft and fourth and seventh-round picks in the 2001 NFL Draft to the Jets, while also receiving the Jets' fifth-round selection in 2001 and seventh-round pick in the 2002 NFL Draft.
After graduation, he worked as an equipment manager for the Detroit Lions. The team was struggling, and Belichick reportedly told the coach, Bill Edwards, "I can do better than most of the guys you've got." Edwards, who had coached Belichick at Western Reserve, agreed, and signed him as a player. Although the team's fortunes did not improve, Belichick had some success, scoring a 65-yard touchdown punt return in a loss against the New York Giants.
McConkey had completed his mandatory five years in the U.S. Navy as an officer and helicopter pilot when he decided to try to play professional football even though he was already 27. He weighed barely 160 pounds and hadn’t played football in five years. The first person he approached was Steve Belichick, Navy's backfield coach and scout, who timed him at a speedy 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Belichick then contacted his son, Bill Belichick, who had just been elevated to defensive coordinator of the New York Giants under head coach Bill Parcells.
Belichick is also lauded for his skill as a general manager. Belichick is known for taking players that otherwise had lackluster or declining careers and making them productive for one or more seasons. Belichick is credited for doing this with players such as RB Corey Dillon, who was the Patriots' first 1000-yard rusher in 2004 on his way to 1738 yards from scrimmage, including 1635 rushing yards. Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss was traded to New England in 2007 after lackluster play for the Oakland Raiders, but went on to catch 23 touchdowns in 2007, setting an NFL record. Belichick drafted wide receiver Julian Edelman in the 7th round. Edelman went on to set a franchise record for postseason receptions and caught one of the most memorable catches in Super Bowl LI. Most notably, Belichick is credited with drafting quarterback Tom Brady with the 199th pick in the 2000 NFL Draft. Brady would go on to help the Patriots form a dynasty that has lasted from 2001 onwards, and currently holds every NFL postseason passing record except yards per attempt and completion percentage.
In February 1997, Belichick, who had been an assistant coach under Bill Parcells with the New York Giants and New England Patriots, was named the Jets interim head coach while the Jets and Patriots continued to negotiate compensation to release Parcells from his contract with the Patriots and allow Parcells to coach the Jets.[28] Six days later, the Patriots and Jets reached an agreement that allowed Parcells to coach the Jets, and Belichick became the team's assistant head coach and defensive coordinator.[29]