SEATTLE — For the first time in his coaching career, Steve Belichick doesn’t share a last name with anyone on his staff.
The son of the NFL’s most successful coach, and defensive coordinator at the University of Washington, parted ways with the New England Patriots during the summer. Belichick had the option to stay in Foxboro as a member of Jerod Mayo’s staff, but he chose to join Jedd Fisch to the Pacific Northwest in search of a fresh challenge.
“I wasn’t eager to leave (the Patriots) or anything like that,” Belichick told The Athletic on Thursday after practice at Husky Stadium. “You just keep your options open. Stuff happens. We all have different reasons for (taking different jobs), but it just felt right.”
Belichick spent 12 seasons working for Bill Belichick in New England, including the 2020 season with Fisch. After Fisch took over at Arizona, the two stayed close, and when Fisch was hired by Washington this year, he needed someone to manage his defense.
New Washington Huskies defensive coordinator Steve Belichick was asked about the differences between himself and his dad, Bill Belichick.
His response pic.twitter.com/rzeYFVyEvs
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) March 28, 2024
Steve Belichick leaped at the offer because he enjoyed the opportunity. And while he had the option to remain with Mayo, much like his brother Brian, the current safeties coach with the Patriots, he felt it was time to move on.
“It kind of happened organically,” Belichick said. “It’s cool to be out here. It’s weird how it happened. Everything fell into place, and I’m pumped to be out here.
“It’s been really good. I really appreciate coach Fisch giving me the opportunity. It’s definitely different moving across the country and going to college, but at the end of the day, football is football. It’s been good. Learning a lot. I’m excited to keep it going.”
Belichick stated that was not the case, even if it could seem advantageous to leave his father’s shadow in a new setting.
“I’ve never looked at it like that, like I’m living under a shadow,” Belichick said. “I’m always going to be myself. He’s my dad. He plays an enormous role in my life — in my profession, in everything I do in life as a father, as a husband, all that stuff. I’ve never really seen it like that. I’m not like, ‘Oh, I don’t have to live in his shadow anymore.’ I’ve never thought of it like that, whether it was now or a year ago or five years ago. That hasn’t really crossed my mind.”
Bill Belichick is still supporting his kid, of course; he just does not do it in the same building every day. Along with Fisch, Bill Belichick has stayed close, and this season they have discussed ideas, just as they did when Fisch was at Arizona.
That is likely receiving a little bit more attention now that Fisch has hired Steve Belichick.
“Those guys have a great relationship,” Belichick said. “He’s my dad, so he’s helping me on and off the field. His involvement is just being with people who he’s close to and stuff like that. He helped Jedd last year, and he’s helping Jedd this year. He’s got a little more time on his hands, so maybe it’s more or less (involvement). I guess you can say he’s helping me less just because I’m not in the building every day and we’re across the country from each other, but I talk to him very frequently, just like I think I would if he wasn’t a football coach.”
Belichick was at work on Thursday getting his defense ready for Washington’s season opener against Weber State at the end of the month. Washington opened camp this week. Think back to Malcolm Butler and Brandon Browner at the end of Super Bowl XLIX against the Seattle Seahawks. He spent a significant amount of time in the second half of practice reviewing coverage techniques against combo routes with the defensive backs. Belichick also pulled a player to the side a few times for additional coaching.
Steve Belichick and his father share a lot of similarities in their mannerisms and movement, and they even have somewhat similar voices. However, Steve now has the opportunity to set himself apart in Washington. Additionally, it is difficult to ignore the possibility that he might get another coaching opportunity if that defense continues to play well.
“I’m proud of what I did in New England,” Belichick said. “So many good relationships. It was amazing. I was there for a real long time, started my family there. Now I’m here, and I’m not worried about what’s going to happen going forward. We need to have good days in camp, stack them together and go win some games.
“I never predicted I would come out here or (think) for a period of time before I got out here that I can’t wait to go someplace else. It happened, and now I’m out here. I’m not looking forward to going anyplace else. I’m looking forward to staying here and being with these guys. That’s all I’m worried about.”
(Photo: Alika Jenner / Getty Images)
