Bill Belichick Named Head Coach of the Patriots
On this day in 2000, Bill Belichick was named head coach of the New England Patriots. Belichick had already earned a reputation as a brilliant defensive strategist in his years with the Giants and the Jets. In his second season with the Patriots, Belichick made a controversial move, replacing starting quarterback Drew Bledsoe with the unknown backup, Tom Brady. Belichick's "one-die-all-die" philosophy, which emphasizes teamwork over individual star players, helped the team win a series of come-from-behind playoff games. Perhaps the most thrilling was the last game ever played in Foxboro Stadium when the Patriots scored a field goal in overtime to beat the Oakland Raiders. Under Belichick's leadership, the team continued its exciting play in multiple playoff and Super Bowl games.