Is This the End of the Bill Belichick Coaching Tree With the Head of the Snake Finally Cut?

Published 12/13/2023, 11:15 AM EST

Mike Shanahan and Bill Belichick are two of the most familiar names in the NFL circuit and for good reasons. It’s been almost 4 decades since either started their coaching career and 3 decades since either’s head-coaching tenure began. Standing by the end of 2023, while Shanahan is long retired, the latter is likely liberated from his dynasty according to the latest build-ups.

Belichick betters Shanahan in accolades, wins, and nearly all other statistics. But despite the former’s success over the latter, we have a surprising winner when comparing their coaching tree. For all his legacy, Belichick couldn’t be a good mentor. At least that’s what records suggest. With him now likely out of the Patriots, his coaching tree faces a shocking and unexpected fate.

NFL’s Bill Belichick era is likely over, and so is its greatest coaching tree

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Reports emerged earlier the day that Robert Kraft had already decided with Belichick. If the reports are true, an era ended today. But what else ends? An active coach with a winning record, a rare one in his coaching tree. And despite Shanahan retiring over a decade ago, he has a clear advantage in this regard. Following are the five most successful products from the head coaches’ coaching tenure.

Mike Shanahan coaching tree (178-144-0 for the Raiders, Broncos, and Commanders)

1. Sean McVay (66-45 for the Rams)
2. Kyle Shanahan (62-49 for the 49ers)
3. Anthony Lynn (33-32 for the Bills and Chargers)
4. Matt LaFleur (53-26 for the Packers)
5. Gary Kubiak (82-75 for the Texans and Broncos)

Bill Belichick coaching tree (301-162-0 for the Broncos, Commanders, and Raiders)

1. Bill O’Brien (52-48 for the Texans)
2. Brian Flores (24-25 for the Dolphins)
3. Nick Saban (15-17 for the Dolphins)
4. Al Groh (9-7 for the Jets)
5. Brian Daboll (11-13-1 for the Giants)

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Belichick’s coaching tree is the largest and arguably the greatest ever in NFL history. 17 assistant coaches under him went on to become head coaches, the biggest in the league. But despite that, Belichick couldn’t produce a successful batch of coaches. Not someone even remotely close to him. But if we keep the tree aside, it’s a day-and-night difference between the two head coaches. Make no mistake, Shanahan is one of the greatest ever. But Belichick might be THE greatest the Gridiron has ever seen.

The abrupt end of the Bill Belichick tree

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Joining the Patriots in 2000, Belichick found the jewel in his crown a few months later. At the moment, it was just another 199th NFL draft pick for the backup of Drew Bledsoe, but the 22-year-old named Tom Brady would change history forever. The following year, Brady replaced Bledsoe, and the rest is history.

Sadly, Brady is already in the Patriots’ history, and probably Belichick as well. The head coach is the last-standing member of the team’s Golden Era, and the longest active member of the league as well. With his termination, Belichick would arguably go down as the greatest ever in history with his trophy cabinet. His 6 Super Bowls, 3x AP coach of the year, and 2000s and 2010s all-decade teams’ coach are just to name a few.

The only other active winning coach from Belichick’s tree will be O’Brien, the current offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for his mentor’s side. But will he be able to carry on with Belichick’s Patriots legacy and revive their golden times? It’s heavily uncertain, but time will tell.

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My story of becoming an NFL writer is as interesting as my story of becoming an MMA practitioner. Coming from such a sport where athletes look to knock the brain cells off each other for a living, I liked the aggression that American Football had to offer. Before I even realized it, I religiously started following American football, picking up the most challenging in-depth write-ups.

Edited by:

Anuj Jacob

Is This the End of the Bill Belichick Coaching Tree With the Head of the Snake Finally Cut?

NFL’s Bill Belichick era is likely over, and so is its greatest coaching tree

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The abrupt end of the Bill Belichick tree