As his epic run with the New England Patriots comes to an end, it’s time to consider Bill Belichick’s legacy — as it relates to Annapolis.
Belichick is arguably the city’s most famous product, an eight-time Super Bowl champion and sure-fire first ballot inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Throughout his five decade career in the NFL, Belichick has always maintained a strong affiliation with Annapolis and worn his hometown on his sleeve.
Belichick was 4 years old when his father accepted a position at the Naval Academy as a physical education instructor and assistant football coach. Steve Belichick was invaluable as an advanced scout and special teams coach and became the longest-serving assistant (1956-1989) assistant in Navy football history.
Belichick was an only child who was extremely close with his mother, Jeannette, and idolized his father. Father and son often studied film together and young Bill learned a lot about football by listening to Steve deliver the weekly scouting report on Navy’s upcoming opponent.
The younger Belichick has said many times that his father was his most important mentor and the reason he wanted to become a football coach.
Belichick attended Annapolis High, where he played football and lacrosse for legendary coach “Big” Al Laramore. He was a center on the gridiron and a defenseman in the stick sport.
Belichick has spoken many times about Laramore’s influence, both as a coach and a leader of men. Laramore was literally a larger than life figure, an imposing man of nearly 300 pounds who was universally respected by his players.
“There have been but a select few individuals in my lifetime who have gone out of their way to generously provide the counsel and support which proved beneficial in guiding and shaping my career,” Belichick previously said. “Al Laramore is one of those choice few. I owe him a great deal.”
After graduating from Annapolis in 1970, Belichick spent a prep school year at Phillips Academy in Massachusetts, where he continued to play football and lacrosse. He played both sports at Wesleyan College in Middletown, Connecticut, serving as captain of the lacrosse team.
Belichick got into coaching in 1975 as a $25-per-week, low-level assistant to coach Ted Marchibroda with the Baltimore Colts. His rapid rise through the NFL coaching ranks has been well chronicled.
Belichick was defensive coordinator for a pair of Super Bowl championship squads while with the New York Giants. His defensive game plan for the Giants’ 20-19 upset of the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV was placed in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
New England hired Belichick as head coach in 2000 and the rest is history. The Patriots made nine Super Bowl appearances and came away with six championships during his 24-year tenure.
Holding the NFL record for most Super Bowl titles by a coach is the lynchpin of Belichick’s Hall of Fame resume, which also includes nine conference championships. He has 21 winning seasons as a head coach, which ranks fifth in league history.
Belichick has 333 career victories and needs just 15 more to surpass Don Shula (Baltimore Colts, Miami Dolphins) as the all-time winningest coach in NFL history. Don’t bet against him achieving that milestone.
At age 71, Belichick still has plenty of gas in the tank and competitive juices still flow as strong as ever. It would be shocking if Belichick is not hired by another NFL franchise by the end of this month.
Belichick has consistently returned to Annapolis throughout his coaching career and continues to do so even though both his parents have passed. Steve Belichick died in 2005, while his widow Jeannette died in 2020. They are both buried at the Naval Academy Cemetery.
Belichick graciously attends the Touchdown Club of Annapolis football banquet whenever there is a recipient of the special award named in honor of his father. Most recently, he personally presented the Steve Belichick Coaches Award to the family of the late Alan Pastrana.
At the appropriate time, Belichick will be inducted into the Anne Arundel County Sports Hall of Fame. That organization has held off bestowing the inevitable honor because the legendary coach was still active and adding to his legacy.
The City of Annapolis should find a way to recognize Belichick in a prominent and permanent way. At present, visitors would never know that Annapolis is the hometown of arguably the greatest coach in NFL history.
In April 2021, mayor Gavin Buckley presented Belichick with the key to the City of Annapolis at halftime of the Army-Navy men’s lacrosse game. Buckley gave Belichick a beautiful wooden plaque with an oversized brass key mounted on it.
That was a largely ceremonial honor and does not qualify as a public display that visitors could see when they come to Annapolis.
So what would be the best way to recognize Belichick as a distinguished son of Annapolis?
A statue seems a bit much and something more appropriate for outside the main gates of Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
Perhaps a plaque or some sort of marker at City Dock? Maybe the city could name a notable building in honor of Belichick.
There has been talk of constructing new athletic fields on the site of the old Weems-Whalen Memorial Field off Spa Road. How does the Bill Belichick Athletic Complex at Weems-Whalen Memorial Park sound?
Surely there must be some sensible way to publicly recognize Belichick in perpetuity. I believe it’s time for Mayor Buckley and the City Council to begin that discussion.
