Patriots: Bill Belichick’s statement about mother passing away will make you cry
By Adam Weinrib
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick shared sentiments about his mother’s passing.
We’ve never known all that much about Patriots head coach Bill Belichick’s family outside of the world of football.
His father, Steve, coached at the United States Naval Academy for 34 years, after stopping at UNC-Chapel Hill and Vanderbilt. His sons, of course, have also joined the family business — Steve and Brian Belichick work with their father every day in New England. Belichick was even named after College Football Hall of Fame coach Bill Edwards, his godfather and embodiment of the Ohio ties that began Belichick’s coaching career in Cleveland.
But at home, there was always the matriarch — Jeanette, who lived a remarkable 98 years, and passed away earlier this week.
Belichick remembered his mother on Thursday morning, after word of her passing leaked late Tuesday, and chose to think positively about the union with his late father that may have taken place.
Bill Belichick via video conference speaking on his mom who passed away at age 98: "I appreciate everyone's thoughts and the condolences that they expressed. She had almost 99 years, so a very long and happy life. She'll be with my dad now."
— Ryan Hannable (@RyanHannable) September 17, 2020
Of course, in classic Belichick fashion, he also tied his mother’s passing to the way she shaped his football journey.
In fact, with his father on the road so often, she did a lot to help build his shared love of the game, sitting with him on many weekends as he soaked up football’s small and large joys and intricacies.
Bill Belichick on his mother Jeannette: "My dad was away a lot on scouting trips, so I always kind of grew up with her on football weekends at home. We watched hundreds of games together. ... We became very close and shared those experiences together."
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) September 17, 2020
The Patriots paid tribute to their leader’s fallen family member with an incredible throwback photograph that you’ve probably seen before, but you should always make time to see again.
In case you doubted its veracity the first time you saw it, the Pats have now confirmed it: Yes, that really is Bill Belichick smiling. And is that an early Pat Patriot jersey knockoff? Seems that coach’s youth football team may have been ahead of the curve here.
Our deepest condolences to Coach Belichick, Steve, Brian and the Belichick family after the passing of their mom and grandmother, Jeannette 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/eWLMffXPgI
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) September 16, 2020
All our condolences go out to Belichick, who will be coaching the first game of his life this weekend without Jeannette’s energy radiating from home.
She’ll certainly be front of mind as the Seahawks and Patriots take the field on Sunday night, though.
