07 September 2023 , 19:25
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New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has split from his long-term girlfriend - and officials at the AFC East franchise are concerned about what information might surface.
The breakup between Belichick and Holliday has been ‘drawn-out’ and prolonged for approximately a year. The Patriots coach has reportedly been with the 59-year-old since 2007, and the end of their relationship has executives in Foxborough on edge on the eve of Belichick’s 24th season with the organisation, according to Page Six.
Belichick has been with Holliday - who remains at his Nantucket, Massachusetts home as she enjoys the area - since his marriage to Debby Clarke ended in 2006. She is also the president of the Bill Belichick Foundation, which endeavours to ‘provide coaching, mentorship, and financial support to individuals, communities, and organisations’.
Back in January 2021, Holliday hit headlines when she criticised Tom Brady, who formed perhaps the greatest quarterback-head coach tandem along with Belichick in New England. Brady won a playoff game against the New Orleans Saints with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers en route to his seventh Super Bowl title - and first without Belichick - when an Instagram follower wrote: ‘Too bad Bill let Tom go!’
In a response that undoubtedly would have ruffled Belichick’s feathers, Holliday said: “And you have all the answers evidently? Tom didn’t score last night…not once! Defense won that game. Were you even watching?”
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News of his split with Holliday comes out as Belichick is preparing for his 49th season in the NFL and 29th as a head coach. Largely considered the greatest coach in NFL history, the six-time Super Bowl champion has 329 victories (including playoffs) which places him second for the most in NFL history behind Don Shula’s record of 347.
On Wednesday, Belichick revealed he still feels giddy and excited for each new NFL season. He told reporters: “It's what I do. I enjoy it. Beats working for a living.”
Bill Belichick is considered one of the greatest head coaches in NFL history (AP)Belichick will hope things improve on the field; the Pats offense was dismal in 2022, finishing 32nd in red zone efficiency en route to an 8-9 record. Changes were made in the form of Bill O’Brien’s return as offensive coordinator, while receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and tight end Mike Gesicki were brought in as weapons for starting quarterback Mac Jones.
However, linebackers coach - and son of Belichick - Steve expects the Pats to improve. This will be the 12th season he has spent on his father's staff, and he praised the continuity of Belichick’s system.
“He's obviously old,” Steve said. “He's definitely old. But I haven’t seen a ton of changes in terms of his approach and stuff like that.
“I think he does a good job of adapting. He's not stuck in his ways. He listens to feedback, and he implements it how he wants to.”
The New England Patriots take on the Philadelphia Eagles, who lost Super Bowl LVII, in Week 1 at Gillette Stadium on Sept. 10.