USA TODAY Sports
Patriots coach Bill Belichick is unlikely to hear from former Patriots tighthead Rob Gronkowski very often. If Belichick was ever going to hear from Belichick, it is now.
Belichick was born 69 years ago today.
Over the weekend, we touched on the question of how long Belichick will last. At one point he said he would not practice in the 70s. Now on the verge of 70, he feels different. He will surely go further than his next birthday, April 16, 2022.
The work makes physical demands. As noted Sunday, George Halas stopped at 73 because he could not get around on an arthritic hip. For all coaches who work beyond 70, this can become a problem.
Or maybe there will simply be other things Belichick wants to do with his life; at this point he is certainly not motivated by money.
One reason to keep going can be simple. Belichick probably enjoys the time he had with his sons, Steve and Brian. Belichick may also want to continue long enough to ensure that his sons have learned everything from him and that they are ready to stand on their own as coaches.
Similarly, Archie Manning gave the NFL two boys who became great backs, and Belichick was eventually able to give two boys to the NFL who become great coaches. The more they can work closely with him, the more scenarios they experience and problems they solve with his wisdom and experience, the better.
Then there is the real possibility that coaching has become such a big part of his life that he can not imagine not doing it. It’s part of his routine. It’s part of who he is. He cut the code on how to thrive as an NFL coach. Why stop doing that?
As noted on Thursday’s PFT premier, the Patriots have once again become a fascinating story in pro football as the two-decade-long dominance ends, and Belichick is now trying to lay the foundation for the next generation of greatness. How much more will he have to get the team back on top of the mountain and keep them there?
Finally, only Belichick knows.