New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has made a strong case as the greatest head coach of all time. He’s done just about everything over his 23-year career with the Patriots.
In those 23 years, he coached a plethora of elite talents. That includes multiple Hall of Famers and future Hall of Famers. Belichick wouldn’t release a full roster just yet, but he did recently reveal five players he would put on his all-time team. Who’s on it?
Bill Belichick’s All-Time Team
Since joining the Patriots as their head coach in 2000, Belichick has won eight Super Bowls, been named AP NFL Coach of the Year three times, and has made the NFL 2000s and 2010s All-Decade Teams.
The first player on his list, according to the Boston Herald, though, is obvious. It’s quarterback Tom Brady, who is widely considered the greatest NFL player of all time. In his 22-year career, Brady was a five-time Super Bowl MVP, three-time NFL MVP, two-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year, three-time First-team All-Pro, and 15-time Pro Bowler.
Brady’s career stat line is 89,214 yards, 649 touchdowns, and 212 interceptions. He also adds 1,123 yards and 28 touchdowns on the ground. He, along with Belichick, was named to the NFL 200s and 2010s All-Decade Teams. He led the NFL in passing touchdowns five times, passing yards four times, and passer rating twice.
Next up on Belichick’s list was Rodney Harrison. Harrison spent 15 seasons in the NFL as a safety, six of them with the Patriots from 2003-2008 and the other nine with the San Diego Chargers. During his career, he was a two-time First-team All-Pro, two-time Super Bowl champion, and two-time Pro Bowler.
In his career, Harrison had 1,206 tackles, 34 interceptions, 30.5 sacks, 15 forced fumbles and four total touchdowns. He did all of that after being drafted in the fifth round in the 1994 draft out of Western Illinois.
Harrison was named to the Patriots’ Hall of Fame and the NFL’s All-2000s Team and All-Dynasty Team. He was most recently announced as one of 15 modern-era finalists for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“Best safety I’ve coached,” said Belichick. “And there’s a couple other ones that I’ve coached that are in the Hall of Fame.”
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
The third player on Belichick’s list was Rob Gronkowski, who is in consideration as the greatest tight end of all time. He was drafted in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Patriots, where he spent nine seasons before joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for two.
In his career, Gronkowski caught 621 passes for 9,286 yards and 92 touchdowns. He was a four-time First-team All-Pro, five-time Pro Bowler, and four-time Super Bowl champion. He also won NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2014 and was named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team and NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
The fourth player Belichick named was linebacker Lawrence Taylor. Taylor, who some consider the greatest defensive player of all time, spent his entire 13-year career with the Giants from 1981-1993. Taylor is the only player on Belichick’s list who did not play for the Patriots.
In his career, Taylor was a two-time Super Bowl champion and was named Defensive Player of the Year three times and NFL MVP and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year once. Additionally, he is an eight-time First-Team All-Pro and 10-time Pro Bowler. He has 1,088 career tackles, 132.5 sacks, 33 forced fumbles, nine interceptions, and two touchdowns.
Taylor was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999. He was also named to the NFL’s 1980s All-Decade Team and both the NFL’s 75th and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams.
His connection with Belichick was when he was the Giants’ linebackers and special-teams coach from 1980-1984 and their defensive coordinator from 1985-1990.
Finally, Belichick believes special-teamer Matthew Slater should be in the Hall of Fame and is on his list. “Well, I think Slater is eventually going to be a Hall of Fame candidate,” said Belichick. “I think he’s the best that’s ever done what he’s done.”
Slater is still on the Patriots roster and has been since he was drafted in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He has 185 career tackles and one forced fumble. He is a three-time Super Bowl champion, five-time First-Team All-Pro, and 10-time Pro Bowler. He was also named to the Patriots’ All-2010s Team and All-Dynasty Team.
Many believe if Slater were to get in, retired Buffalo Bills special-teamer Steve Tasker would have to get in first. Bill Belichick doesn’t. “Yeah, I think Slater’s done more than Tasker,” said Belichick. “I respect Tasker, but I just honestly think he’s done more. I’m sure some people would disagree with that, but those two would be at that position.”
Want to predict the rest of the 2023 season with our FREE NFL Playoff Predictor? Looking for the most up-to-date NFL standings? What about a breakdown of team depth charts or the NFL schedule? Pro Football Network has you covered with that and more!
