Bill Belichick is recognized as one of the greatest NFL coaches of all-time after winning a staggering six Super Bowls with the New England Patriotss between 2001 and 2018.
Belichick was hired by the Patriots in 2000 after a few unremarkable seasons leading the Cleveland Browns. After a difficult first year in New England (5-11 record), Belichick and the Patriots were rejuvenated with the emergence of Tom Brady, who took over at quarterback midway through the 2001 season and led the Pats all the way to their first ever Super Bowl championship.
Between 2001 and Brady's departure in 2019, the Patriots never lost more than seven games in a single regular season, making the playoffs in all but one season (2008) and even going a perfect 16-0 in 2007.
Belichick is third all-time in the NFL for wins as a head coach (302), and holds the record for most playoff wins (31). He also owns the records for most Super Bowl appearances (9) and most Super Bowl wins (6).
Despite his dominance over the league this century, the 73-year-old has coached and faced some legendary players over the course of his career. But who is the greatest quarterback Belichick ever coached against? The iconic playcaller only has one answer to that question.
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Belichick Names Peyton Manning as the Best QB He's Coached Against
Bill Belichick and Peyton Manning after AFC Championship
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Back in 2021, when he was still the head coach of the Patriots, Belichick told Ben Volin of The Boston Globe that Peyton Manning is the best quarterback he's faced in the NFL.
"[Manning] is definitely the best quarterback I've coached against," Belichick said.
Belichick, now the head coach at the University of North Carolina, pointed to Manning's ability to call plays on the fly and read defenses like no other quarterback has been able to do.
"There have been quarterbacks who called their own plays, but it was nowhere near the same as what he did,β Belichick said of Manning. βHe basically called every play by adjusting and/or changing the play once he saw what the defense was doing.β
Peyton Manning vs Tom Brady/Bill Belichick - Career Head-to-Head
Category
Regular Season Wins
Postseason Wins
Overall Record: 11-6 Brady/Belichick
Manning was a nightmare to coach against, forcing coaches to switch up their defensive coverages in an attempt to counter his audibles.
"He excelled at using the cadence and recognizing blitzes, and more than any one single offensive player, he forced us to change and adapt defensive game plans,β Belichick explained.
Manning is an NFL Great
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021
Peyton Manning was one of the best players to ever play quarterback in the NFL, starring for the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos in a legendary 18-year career.
The New Orleans, Louisiana native led both the Colts and Broncos to a Super Bowl, notably retiring right after guiding Denver to the championship in 2015. Manning also won five NFL MVP awards, was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year on two occasions, and was voted to 10 All-Pro teams, among a laundry list of career accolades.
Peyton Manning - NFL Career Accolades
NFL Seasons
Super Bowl Championships
Super Bowl MVPs
NFL MVP Awards
Pro Bowl Selections
First-Team All-Pro
Second-Team All-Pro
NFL Passing Touchdowns Leader
NFL Passing Yards Leader
NFL Completion Leader
NFL 100th Anniversary Team
NFL Comeback Player of the Year
Career Passing Touchdowns
Career Passing Yards
Career Wins as Starting QB
No. 1 Overall Draft Pick
Hall of Fame Induction
Belichick never got to face Manning in the Super Bowl, but they did have some memorable postseason meetings. The two rivals faced each other five times in the postseason, with the winner going on to lift the Vince Lombardi trophy on all but one occasion (Manning/Broncos, 2013).
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