If you are a fan of the New England Patriots, you probably know that Bill Belichick is the head coach and general manager of the team. He has led the Patriots to six Super Bowl championships and is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in NFL history. But did you know that he is not the only Belichick in the coaching business? His son, Stephen Belichick, is also a member of the Patriots’ staff, serving as the safeties coach. In fact, Stephen is one of three children of Bill Belichick who are involved in sports. His sister, Amanda, is the head women’s lacrosse coach at Holy Cross, and his brother, Brian, is a coaching assistant for the Patriots.
So, how did this family become so successful in sports? And is Steve Belichick related to Bill Belichick? The answer lies in their father-son-grandfather relationship that spans three generations of football coaches.
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Steve Belichick: The Patriarch of the Family
Steve Belichick (who goes by Steve) was born on January 7, 1919, in Monessen, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Croatian immigrants who changed their surname from Biličić to Belichick. He played college football at Western Reserve University, now known as Case Western Reserve University, where he was a star fullback and scored several touchdowns in his senior season. He also played in the school’s first and only bowl game, the 1941 Sun Bowl victory over Arizona State
After graduation, he worked as an equipment manager for the Detroit Lions. He reportedly told the coach, Bill Edwards, who had coached him at Western Reserve, “I can do better than most of the guys you’ve got.” Edwards agreed and signed him as a player. He had some success, scoring a 65-yard punt return touchdown in a loss against the New York Giants
During World War II, he joined the United States Navy and served in both Europe and the Pacific. He also played for the successful 1942 Great Lakes Navy Bluejackets football team
After he completed his service in 1946, he became the head coach at Hiram College, southeast of Cleveland. He coached both football and basketball there for four years. In 1949, he left Hiram to become the backfield coach at Vanderbilt University, where he spent two seasons before joining the University of North Carolina as an assistant to George Barclay in 1953
In 1956, he joined the United States Naval Academy as an assistant coach and scout. He stayed there for 34 years until his retirement in 1989. He was known for his expertise in scouting opponents and developing game plans. He also mentored many players and coaches who went on to have successful careers in football, including Roger Staubach, Joe Bellino, Jack Cloud, Steve Spurrier and Nick Saban.
He was inducted into the Case Western Reserve Hall of Fame in 1976. He died on November 19, 2005, at the age of 86.
Bill Belichick: The Son Who Followed His Father’s Footsteps
Bill Belichick was born on April 16, 1952, in Nashville, Tennessee. He was the son of Steve and Jeannette Belichick (née Munn). He grew up around football and learned a lot from his father’s coaching career. He attended Annapolis High School in Maryland, where he played football and lacrosse.
He went on to study economics at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, where he also played football and lacrosse. He graduated in 1975 and began his coaching career as an assistant to Ted Marchibroda with the Baltimore Colts.
He then worked as an assistant coach for several teams in the NFL and college football, including the Detroit Lions (1976-1977), Denver Broncos (1978), New York Giants (1979-1990), Cleveland Browns (1991-1995), New England Patriots (1996) and New York Jets (1997-1999). He won two Super Bowl rings as a defensive coordinator for Bill Parcells with the Giants.
In 2000, he became the head coach of the Patriots after a brief stint as the head coach of the Jets. Since then, he has led the Patriots to nine Super Bowl appearances and six Super Bowl titles. He has also won three NFL Coach of the Year awards and holds several records for most wins by a head coach in NFL history.
He is known for his strategic genius, attention to detail and adaptability to different situations. He is also notorious for his terse and secretive demeanor with the media and his trademark hooded sweatshirt. He has been praised and criticized for his controversial decisions, such as the Spygate scandal, the Deflategate scandal and the Malcolm Butler benching.
He married Debby Clarke in 1977 and had three children with her: Amanda, Stephen and Brian. They divorced in 2006. He is currently in a relationship with Linda Holliday, a former television personality.
Stephen Belichick: The Grandson Who Carries On the Legacy
Stephen Belichick (who goes by Steve) was born on March 25, 1987, in Weston, Massachusetts. He is the middle child of Bill and Debby Belichick. He grew up playing football and lacrosse, following his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps.
He attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, where he played both sports. He then spent four years playing lacrosse at Rutgers University in New Jersey. He also played a year of football as a walk-on long snapper under Greg Schiano.
He joined the Patriots as a coaching assistant in 2012, the same year his grandfather passed away. He became the safeties coach in 2016, added the secondary to his duties in 2019 and has three Super Bowl rings. He sounds just like his dad in interviews. It’s uncanny, really.
He is reportedly taking over defensive playcalling duties from linebackers coach Jerod Mayo after Brian Flores left to coach the Miami Dolphins. He has been praised for his work with the safeties, especially Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung.
He married Jennifer Schmitt in June 2017. They have a daughter, Blakely, who was born on October 18, 2016. She was on the field for the Patriots’ Super Bowl LIII celebration.
Conclusion
So, is Steve Belichick related to Bill Belichick? The answer is yes, he is his son and his namesake. He is also the grandson of Steve Belichick, the patriarch of the family who started the coaching legacy.
The Belichicks are a remarkable family of football coaches who have achieved great success and recognition in their field. They have also faced challenges and controversies along the way. They have shown dedication, passion and intelligence in their craft.
