Bill Belichick is having the most fun he's had all season.
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) December 9, 2023
One of the greatest coaches in NFL history, Belichick celebrated the New England Patriots 21-18 win night over Pittsburgh on Thursday with an appearance on ESPN's "College GameDay" as the celebrity guest picker for Army-Navy.
He announced his pick by channeling Lee Corso and donning an old Navy helmet.
Bill Belichick took a page out of Coach’s book and brought his own headgear #CollegeGameDay pic.twitter.com/ttcth1EAP5
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) December 9, 2023
For the first time in the game's 124-year history, Foxboro is hosting the annual rivalry game.
On Friday, Belichick spoke about the game's significance to him. His father, Stephen Belichick, was a coach and scout at Navy from 1956-89. He described it as a "full circle" moment, adding, "I have a great appreciation for the Naval Academy and a great appreciation for this game. It's a thrill for me that it's taking place in our stadium."
Belichick noted on "GameDay" how foundational being around the program was to him when growing up. He also shared stories about "GameDay's" Lee Corso, who coached at Navy from 1966-68, praising his aggressive mindset.
For a coach who can be curt in his interactions with the media, it was refreshing to see him open up about his influences in a relaxed environment and have some fun. With the season New England (3-10) has had, Belichick deserves it.
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