Bill Belichick is one of those names that sends ripples through the bloodstream of anyone who has any passing interest in the NFL.
Well into his 70s, he remains ‘Coach’. The hunger hasn’t dissipated, though a few years have passed since his exit from the New England Patriots.
When he eventually does retire, the statue will be erected outside Gillette Stadium, next to the one of Tom Brady built back in 2024. That’s been promised by Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft.
A 24 year stint in charge brought six Super Bowls as head coach, an NFL record.
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He seems to accredit some of that to the fact that both of his parents were teachers by trade. But also by day and by night.
His paternal grandparents were Croatian, trading their Biličić surname for the now world-renowned Belichick at the suggestion of immigration officers.
Perhaps in that alone comes the inspiration for his coaching philosophy that will stand the test of time:
“Talent sets the floor, character sets the ceiling.”
Rather than opt for any number of NFL sides calling out for him, the three-time AP NFL Coach of the Year took on the challenge of college outfit North Carolina Tar Heels.
And amongst his playing clientele is a boy from Glenn in County Down. Adam McCann-Gibbs, from outside Newry.
Regardless of how the greatest coach the game has ever seen addressed the question, it was a pinch yourself moment.
Work to do perhaps for McCann-Gibbs before the Aer Lingus College Classic in the Aviva Stadium this August, but he’s in the perfect environment to learn:
“We saw his workout from some of the coaching videos that he had. He’s got a big leg. Certainly seems to have the ability to perform at this level, but he’s never played American football so we’ll see.
“These practises will be very important for him this spring to see how he affirmates to our style of kicking, a different ball, and so forth.
“He’ll have a great opportunity to earn that playing time opportunity, but there are other people he’ll be competing with and we’ll see how that plays out. Again, he’s a very talented player, but one without very much experience in our game.”
McCann-Gibbs plays for Bill Belichick's UNC Tar Heels.
Glenn and County Down man Adam McCann-Gibbs, who hopes to play a role as a punter in the Aer Lingus College Classic this August.
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Belichick seems of the opinion that practice is of utmost importance for the former Abbey CBS student, comparing his punter role to that of a golfer:
“You have a lot of different punts to hit. In golf, you go to the driving range and pull out the driver but once you get on the course you need the middle irons, the fairway woods, the putter, the sand wedge and so forth.
“With punting, you don’t just stand back there and hit em.”
Currently in spring practice, the squad will meet up again for fall practice, prior to the trip to the Lansdowne Road in around five months’ time. The TCU Horned Frogs provide the opposition, in what represents the first competitive game of the season.
For Belichick, it won’t be his first trip to Dublin, though it will be a little different than his last over 30 years ago, perhaps showing his vintage too:
“I was there for a Bon Jovi concert. It was right after 4 July. I spent a couple of nights there and listened to Jon rock the city.”
That said, the trip to Dublin won’t be all that alien to a man who has a 100 per cent winning record in London.
The NFL’s forward thinking saw the globalisation of the sport as early as 2009 for Belichick, as his New England Patriots had a comfortable win over Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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In 2012 they had another big 45-7 win over St Louis - both fixtures at Wembley Stadium - with more recent affairs at the home of English rugby, Allianz Stadium Twickenham, as well as the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The first regular season NFL affair ever to take place in Ireland was Pittsburgh Steelers against the Minnesota Vikings last year at Croke Park, generating over €100m for the Irish economy.
While on the international theme, Belichick gave his words of wisdom to the Irish soccer team ahead of a huge week for Heimir Halgrímmsson’s team, though admitting he is no soccer expert:
“I guess my advice would be keep the ball out of your net!
“Obviously they’re a very good team to get this far. So I think you’ve got to rely on the things that have got you to where it is.
“Don’t try to be something you’re not. Don’t try to do something you’ve never done before. Do what you have been doing to be successful to the best of your ability.
“Trust the process.”