Brian Belichick opens up about staying with Patriots despite father’s departure

Sep 11, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New England Patriots assistant Brian Belichick against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Cardinals 23-21. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Bill Belichick and his son Steve have been fixtures with the New England Patriots for years. The same could be said of Bill’s other son Brian, who will be the only Belichick roaming the sidelines with New England this year.

While both Bill and Steve departed during the offseason, Brian opted to remain in his role as safeties coach under new coach Jerod Mayo. Brian Belichick discussed that decision for the first time on Wednesday, saying he simply enjoyed living and working in Foxborough.

“I enjoy very much coaching here, living here, working with our players every day,” Belichick said, via Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports. “I have the opportunity to coach a position in the National Football League. I mean, how much more can you ask for than that?”

Belichick even added that not having his father and brother around might improve the family dynamic.

“I think in a way, and this is getting a little personal about our family dynamics, but in a way, I think it was good for us to have some separation from being in a football building every day seeing each other. Whereas now, we’re not just connected by football,” Belichick said. “Not that it was that way before, but, you know, we talk about other things because we’re in different places, not in the same place every day. There’s a lot to talk about football-wise, so it was hard to not get caught up in that when you saw each other at work every day.”

Brian has worked closely with Mayo before, and Mayo was eager to retain him. Belichick also had a daughter during the offseason, which served as even more incentive not to uproot his family. He decided quite early in the process that he would stick around, even as his father and brother both departed.

Brian has coached the Patriots’ safeties since 2020, having previously joined the staff in 2017 as a coaching assistant.