Dec 12, 2024; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels new head coach Bill Belichick speaks to the media at Loudermilk Center for Excellence. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

By trying to prove he doesn’t have an ego, former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick proved he does.

OK, anybody who watched Belichick’s gruff interview sessions for years and years in the NFL already knew this. And the folks at North Carolina will get a chance to witness it firsthand this coming season. Enjoy.

When asked recently about his role in the New England Patriots’ dynasty, Belichick tried to act like he believed he had little to do with it. Now if you’ll buy that he really believes that … George Strait still has some oceanfront property in Arizona for sale.

Former Patriots HC Bill Belichick defends his ego

Belichick squirmed when Jim Gray asked him about his ego on Let’s Go! Here’s how it uncomfortably started.

Jim Gray: How big of an ego did you have and how much did you have to supplicate it and say this isn’t about me?

First, let’s point out that Gray flatly accuses Belichick of having a big ego. The question reads, “how big…”

Bill Belichick: Are you talking about me personally?

Jim Gray: You personally yeah.

Bill Belichick: Well no it’s about the team, it’s totally about the team.

Belichick claims his ego is non-existent. If you read his comments, you will see a man trying to claim that his only contribution came from avoiding screw-ups that led to losses.

Jim Gray: But you have an ego.

Again, Gray is demanding Belichick submit to his knowledge of Belichick’s brain. It’s really quite comical.

Bill Belichick: Jim no, coaches don’t win games, coaches lose them.

There we have it. Coaches are highly overpaid, apparently. They shouldn’t rank coaches based on career wins because coaches didn’t deserve any of them! They should rank coaches based on the fewest losses. Right?

Bill Belichick’s denial is flawed

So you see the gaping hole in Belichick’s argument here. He’s giving himself a double-secret probation compliment. Belichick didn’t win any of those Super Bowl titles for the Patriots. He only prevented the Patriots from losing them. So please, Mr. Belichick, college coach, sir, what is the difference between winning and preventing losing?

On we go.

Jim Gray: So you have no ego, never?

Ah, Jim. You won’t let go. If Belichick doesn’t admit to having an ego, what does that make Gray look like as an interviewer?

OK, buckle up. Here’s Belichick’s assessment of what he provided for the Patriots.

Bill Belichick: Players win games. You can’t win games without good players. I don’t care who the coach is, it’s impossible. You can’t win without good players. I found out when I had Taylor, Banks, Harry Carson, Pepper Johnson, Jim Burt, Everson Walls, all those guys with the Giants. Same thing when we got good at Cleveland and at New England. It’s Brady, it’s McGinest, it’s Vrabel, it’s Bruschi, it’s Corey Dillon, it’s Randy Moss, Troy Brown, Lawyer Milloy, Ty Law, Rodney Harrison, those are the guys that won the games man. I didn’t make any tackles, (and) I didn’t make any kicks. That was Vinatieri (who) made that kick in 4 inches of snow. You’ve got to have good players. And as a coach you want to give your players a chance to win.”

Good old, Bill. He wants you to believe he only carried water. Thanks, Belichick. Not buying it here. For all of those years with the Patriots, Belichick presented an unmistakably strong image of ego. He can try revisionist history all he wants, but it won’t work with anybody reading between the lines of his current comments.