Bill Belichick reveals what is the worst part of being an NFL head coach
Bill Belichick has revealed the worst parts of life as an NFL coach, as the Patriots legend prepares for his first year in nearly 50 years without a coach on the NFL sidelines.
With the NFL starting again next week, each team must cut its roster to 53 players by Tuesday night, and Belichick explained on ESPN’s ‘Pat McAfee Show’ how much he hated ‘firing’ people from his teams.
“As a head coach in the NFL, that’s absolutely the worst part of my job,” he said.
“You have players who come with dreams, and they do everything you ask of them,” he continued.
“They lift weights, they work hard, they train, they sit in meetings. They’re early, they stay late… and in the end, 90 players come to camp and 53 [allowed] ‘On the list you fire 37 people.’
Bill Belichick Revealed That Firing Players Is The Worst Aspect Of Being An NFL Head Coach
He made this admission on the ‘Pat McAfee Show’ ahead of the NFL draft deadline
Belichick, who was effectively both the Patriots’ general manager and head coach (he also held the same roles with the Browns), explained how he was essentially seen as the kiss of death when he entered the league in 1975 as a special assistant for the Baltimore Colts.
“My first year in the league in Baltimore, I was the guy… I was Bad News Billy. And when they saw me coming somewhere — nobody wanted to see me,” he said.
While Belichick found it painful to fire players, it’s clear he made good decisions with his personnel policies, as the Patriots won six Super Bowls during his tenure as head coach (2000-2023).
After parting ways with New England earlier this year, he was unable to secure another head coaching job after twice applying to the Falcons.
Belichick will fill his time this season with appearances on The McAfee Show and as an analyst on The CW’s Inside the NFL.
However, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero said earlier that the 72-year-old is “completely confident” in returning to coaching in the NFL next year.