Bill Belichick might just coach until he dies, says Tony Romo

Former NFL player and current TV broadcaster Tony Romo recently suggested Patriots head honcho Bill Belichick might coach “until we put him in the ground.”

As Patriots head coach Bill Belichick gets ready to kick off his 20th season at the helm in New England, it’s fair to wonder just how much longer he intends to coach. His superstar quarterback, Tom Brady, has repeatedly staved off Father Time in recent years, stubbornly refusing to let his superb level of play slip even an inch as he continues his quest to play into his mid-40s.

What about Belichick though?

On the one hand, he’s 67 years old, he has eight Super Bowl rings to his name, he’s been working in the NFL in some capacity for almost 45 years, and his legacy as perhaps the greatest to ever do it is already long past assured.

On the other hand though, Belichick – unlike Brady – doesn’t have to worry about his body failing him before his brain does. He’s not out on the field taking sacks and hits from players that weigh 300 lbs or more. He doesn’t have to worry about his arm strength waning, and there’s no better, younger candidate waiting in the wings to usurp his place should he one day fail.

Conceivably, Belichick could keep coaching as long as he wants. The rigors of his job are certainly considerable, but by all accounts, Belichick hasn’t let the stress of running a professional football team as dual head coach/general manager for two decades impede his physical, mental, or emotional health.

So how long could he remain on as the Patriots’ head man?

According to former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and current CBS color commentator Tony Romo, the answer is just short of forever.

In a recent interview with the media assembled at a Rhode Island golf tournament, Romo boldly predicted that Belichick will coach “until we put him in the ground.”

"“I feel like there’s rare guys in life that just . . . It’s just kind of who they are. It’s not as if he’s working,” Romo said. “The challenges that they face, I think that just makes it more fun for him, if anything,”"

Romo was referring specifically to the challenges Belichick and the Patriots will face this upcoming season, their first without superstar tight end Rob Gronkowski.

Additionally, the Pats lost de facto defensive coordinator Brian Flores to the Miami Dolphins, a number of other coaches and scouts to other teams, and several important players in free agency (including Trey Flowers, Trent Brown, Chris Hogan, and Cordarrelle Patterson). Dynamic wide receiver Josh Gordon also remains indefinitely suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.

There has been speculation over the years that Belichick might want to keep coaching long after Brady retires, if for no other reason than to prove he can still field competitive teams – and maybe even when a championship – without his future Hall of Fame quarterback.