As Patriots supporters anticipate Bill Belichick’s reflections on his 24-year tenure in New England coming to a close, the 71-year-old former head coach has addressed another matter. In his second public statement since leaving the team, Belichick offered his support to one of his former assistant coaches, Bill O’Brien, in his new role at Boston College.
O’Brien was recently named the head coach of the Boston College Eagles, despite initially agreeing to serve as the offensive coordinator for Ohio State. This appointment came as a surprise, given the disappointment of O’Brien’s offense in New England throughout 2023. Now, he faces the challenge of filling the shoes of Jeff Hafley, who departed to become the Green Bay Packers’ new defensive coordinator after guiding the Eagles to three bowl game appearances in four seasons.
Despite these challenges, O’Brien will have the endorsement of Belichick, widely regarded as the greatest coach of all time, in his new position.
In a statement shared by Boston College’s social media accounts on Wednesday, Belichick praised O’Brien as “a leader of young men and an outstanding communicator.”
Belichick’s endorsement is significant given their extensive history. O’Brien began his NFL coaching career as an offensive assistant with the Patriots in 2007, working his way up Belichick’s staff before moving on to head coaching roles at Penn State and the Houston Texans.
“Of all the coaches I have worked with, few possess Bill’s experience and success at both the college and NFL levels,” Belichick said of O’Brien.
With O’Brien securing a head coaching position while Belichick remains on the sidelines, the dynamic between the two has certainly shifted. However, how much longer the six-time Super Bowl champion will remain without a coaching position is uncertain.
