Patriots' Bill Belichick walks back comments about leaning on the past following criticism

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New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick caught some flak for recent comments regarding his squad during the NFL’s annual meeting on Monday. But he has since walked back his words. 

Belichick was asked why Patriots fans should be optimistic heading into the new season after missing the playoffs last year. Belichick said "the last 25 years," which has rubbed fans and even some former players the wrong way. 

"Right now, Coach Belichick is off-message," ex-Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi said. "That is something that his players shouldn’t hear – that he is basing some optimism to fans on ‘what I’ve done the last 25 years.’ I don’t know if I’ve ever heard Bill mention something like that in terms of his whole body of work. It was surprising to me. I don’t know what’s going on in that locker room now, but players can hold coaches accountable. I’ve done it with Bill before when he said things postgame or during the week that I did not like and we had discussions in captains meetings or after games or whatever. I’m not in that locker room anymore. I’m just surprised because that’s not the Bill Belichick that I know."

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Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots during the Buffalo Bills game at Highmark Stadium on Jan. 8, 2023, in Orchard Park, New York. (Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)

However, during LSU’s Pro Day on Wednesday, Belichick clarified what he said earlier. 

"We’re not resting on our past laurels; that’s not the message to the team or the fans. We have never operated that way and aren’t now," Belichick told The Boston Globe.

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