Patriots Make Coaching Decision on Bill Belichick’s Sons

The New England Patriots are only parting ways with Bill Belichick, not necessarily with the rest of his family.

Belichick’s sons, Steve and Brian, have received coaching offers to return to the Patriots coaching staff for the 2024 season, according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. If they accept, they would work under Jerod Mayo, who replaced Bill Belichick as the team’s head coach last week.

“One other thing worth noting is that Belichick’s sons, defensive play-caller and linebackers coach Steve, and safeties coach Brian, have both already been offered the opportunity to return to the team for 2024,” Breer wrote Monday. “Mayo and the elder son (Steve) have grown close as they’ve collaborated to run the Patriots’ defense the past five years.”

As Breer notes, Steve Belichick has worked with Mayo for the past five seasons, including a supremely successful 2019 campaign that saw New England’s defense allow the fewest points and yards in the NFL. Hired back in 2012, Steve Belichick started in New England as a coaching assistant before working his way up to linebackers coach; he also has called defensive plays for the past five years.

His brother, Brian Belichick, was brought aboard in 2016 and has served as the Pats’ safeties coach for the past four years.

In 2023, the Patriots defense ranked seventh in yards allowed and 15th in points allowed. The franchise’s offers to retain Steve and Brian Belichick could suggest the Patriots don’t want to shake things up too much in the wake of Bill Belichick’s departure. It’s also possible the two sons could follow their father out the door if he accepts a new job this coaching cycle.