Belichick On 40th Year In NFL: 'I've Enjoyed Every Single Year'
BOSTON (CBS) -- He has more Super Bowl rings than Vince Lombardi, more playoff wins than Bill Walsh, and more regular season wins than Bill Parcells.
When it comes to coaching in the NFL, Bill Belichick is the best in the business. He's entering his 40th season in the league, his 20th as a head coach, and is still thirsty to accomplish more.
"I've enjoyed every single year," Belichick told WBZ-TV's Steve Burton. "It was a great opportunity as an assistant to work for great coaches on great teams and to coach some great payers. Of course I've been fortunate to have the opportunity to be a head coach, and a great opportunity to be here with the Patriots and the Kraft family with all the support we get here. I've been very fortunate and lucky."
Belichick has done it all on the field. Now, he's out to accomplish even more off of it. The Bill Belichick Foundation has launched a scholarship program in memory of his late father, Steve, who was the head football coach at the US Naval Academy for 34 years. It focuses on the values his father taught him -- mentoring, coaching and teamwork -- and focuses on the sports of football and lacrosse.
"He coached because he loved coaching. He loved the game and loved to help kids reach their potential. Really, that's been my job and theme throughout my career," said Belichick. "Whether it be helping an experienced player or a rookie do a better job to help our team do better. Sports have been great for me and helped shape me, and I know it means a lot to so many young people. Some are less fortunate that don't have that opportunity, so I want to try to provide that opportunity.
"I've gotten a lot from football and lacrosse, and coaching has been a big part of our family. I just want to give back more," he said. "I've been involved with a lot of other foundations and people said to me 'what can we do for your foundation,' so I felt it was time."
On August 20, the Belichick Foundation will hold "A Hall of Fame Huddle" at the Boston Harbor Hotel, with two special guests: Tedy Bruschi and Troy Brown.
"Troy and Tedy are two of the best, and no one knows more about leadership and teamwork than those guys. I'll be the moderator and we'll just have a little huddle there, and I'll talk to two guys in the Hall of Fame," said Belichick. "It's going to be an exciting night."
Belichick is the only coach in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in four years. Of course, having Robert Kraft as an owner and Tom Brady as quarterback sped up the process.
Bill's formula? He doesn't play favorites.
"I think we're all accountable, and (my players) hold me accountable. Each of us expects each other's best every day, every week. That's really the only way we can do it. We all know I can't do their job, and I don't think they can really do mine. We have to do our jobs independently and pull it together.
"When you have that feeling that you really want to not do your job for yourself but for the other people you're working with, that's when you have the strongest bond," he said. "That's the way I feel about the players, and hopefully the same way the players feel about each other."
That's the "Belichick Way." And he hopes he can continue to carry that message for many more years to come.
"It still beats working," Belichick said with a huge grin. "I have a lot of fun doing it, and I look forward to this season."
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