Official website of the New England Patriots
The Original Coach Belichick
Today, we honor the original Coach Belichick – Bill's father, Steve (Jan. 7, 1919 – Nov. 19, 2005).
![Steve and Bill Belichick get doused with water following the Patriots' Super Bowl XXXIX win over the Eagles.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/edzzb5wn1dyz6xnol6j5.jpg)
Steve and Bill Belichick get doused with water following the Patriots' Super Bowl XXXIX win over the Eagles.
![Father and son, Steve and Bill Belichick.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/fk52z5tidrs3ly2z4c59.jpg)
Father and son, Steve and Bill Belichick.
![Father and son, Steve and Bill Belichick.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/nc0evszzae5mm7gb7xh5.jpg)
Father and son, Steve and Bill Belichick.
![Bill Belichick in his junior high football uniform with his mom, Jeannette, and father, Steve.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/q2huvoyld0uwnj9bpejc.jpg)
Bill Belichick in his junior high football uniform with his mom, Jeannette, and father, Steve.
![Steve Belichick in his playing days as a fullback at Western Reserve University. Following graduation, he worked as an equipment manager for the Detroit Lions. After being signed to the Lions roster, he returned a punt for a touchdown against the Giants.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/myvrkwnjzfzy2hrqhdyu.jpg)
Steve Belichick in his playing days as a fullback at Western Reserve University. Following graduation, he worked as an equipment manager for the Detroit Lions. After being signed to the Lions roster, he returned a punt for a touchdown against the Giants.
![Steve Belichick in his playing days as a fullback at Western Reserve University.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/tt4qxi1ixwo7suvg8lsr.jpg)
Steve Belichick in his playing days as a fullback at Western Reserve University.
![Western Reserve University team photo. Steve Belichick played fullback from 1938-40.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/hrrsbslasmp6fs9yyxuh.jpg)
Western Reserve University team photo. Steve Belichick played fullback from 1938-40.
![Steve Belichick's photo from the U.S. Naval Training Station in Great Lakes, Ill.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/xttmrw4wxf5ugg2zctkd.jpg)
Steve Belichick's photo from the U.S. Naval Training Station in Great Lakes, Ill.
![Steve Belichick (left) during World War II in Okinawa.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/pyajuyjxm9n6qucmmyf3.jpg)
Steve Belichick (left) during World War II in Okinawa.
![Steve Belichick at the U.S. Naval Academy.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/llvrfupvvlzwu0ugskj3.jpg)
Steve Belichick at the U.S. Naval Academy.
![Steve Belichick looks on during practice at Vanderbilt. After serving as the head football and basketball coach at Hiram College from 1946-1949, Belichick coached at Vanderbilt (1949-52) and the University of North Carolina (1953-55) before a 34-year coaching career at the United States Naval Academy.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/cjamytqxdncszxa2bn16.jpg)
Steve Belichick looks on during practice at Vanderbilt. After serving as the head football and basketball coach at Hiram College from 1946-1949, Belichick coached at Vanderbilt (1949-52) and the University of North Carolina (1953-55) before a 34-year coaching career at the United States Naval Academy.
![Navy football coaching staff (from left): Steve Belichick, Ernie Jorge, Wayne Hardin Rick Forzano and Dick Duden. Steve Belichick coached at Navy from 1956-1989.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/xmpyfbnpjbybnpfgumbt.jpg)
Navy football coaching staff (from left): Steve Belichick, Ernie Jorge, Wayne Hardin Rick Forzano and Dick Duden. Steve Belichick coached at Navy from 1956-1989.
![Letters between Steve Belichick and Gerald Ford, whose sons enrolled in Coach Belichick's football camp.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/hxar791gcdstviwtrfsj.jpg)
Letters between Steve Belichick and Gerald Ford, whose sons enrolled in Coach Belichick's football camp.
![Steve Belichick spent over 30 years in scouting during his time at Navy.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/it2ljvfb9tysnr6pu7uu.jpg)
Steve Belichick spent over 30 years in scouting during his time at Navy.
![Steve Belichick at Navy.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/hf1j66nluhcdbl51wkpg.jpg)
Steve Belichick at Navy.
![Steve Belichick with son Bill and grandchildren Steve, Amanda and Brian.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/dvonladhh0qz8jqkwjav.jpg)
Steve Belichick with son Bill and grandchildren Steve, Amanda and Brian.
![Three generations of coaches: Steve Belichick with Patriots coaching assistant Steve Belichick and Bill Belichick.](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/patriots/s8d7ycxpwqv71ea4gnwc.jpg)
Three generations of coaches: Steve Belichick with Patriots coaching assistant Steve Belichick and Bill Belichick.