Most NFL observers would call Patriots coach Bill Belichick the greatest in NFL history. His six Super Bowls are a record, tied with league legends George Halas and Curly Lambeau for the most titles regardless of playoff format. If he can hang around long enough to win 31 more games, he'll pass Don Shula for most ever.
However, some contrarians argue against Belichick’s place in the football pantheon—including former defensive back Asante Samuel, who won two Super Bowls under Belichick in his five-year tenure with New England.
“Absolutely not,” Samuel said when asked by former defensive back Bryant McFadden whether Belichick was the greatest coach in NFL history in an interview posted by CBS on Tuesday morning.
Is Bill Belichick the best coach in NFL history?
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) July 18, 2023
“ABSOLUTELY NOT” - Asante Samuel 😳@pick_six22 didn't hold back with @bmac_sportstalkpic.twitter.com/xkEhHIuYTJ
Samuel used Belichick’s struggles after quarterback Tom Brady left the Patriots for the Buccaneers as evidence.
“Well, look at his record without Tom. You got to win without Tom,” Samuel said. “One thing I learned about being great, you got to be great in different situations. It was all Tom. I was there. I saw it. It was Tom.”
This is not the first time Samuel—a Pro Bowler in 2007 with New England, though his best years came with the Eagles—has criticized Belichick. As trade rumors swirled around Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson in March, Samuel warned Jackson that he should not play for Belichick.
With a critical year looming for Belichick after an 8–9 dud in 2022, it seems likely that Samuel will have plenty to discuss regardless of how ’23 goes for the Patriots.
