Bill Belichick Lets NFL Fans Know Where He Stands Politically
11/04/2024 02:01 PM
Bill Belichick has made it pretty clear where he stands politically over the years.
The legendary New England Patriots head coach, who won six Super Bowls while leading the franchise, is currently enjoying a year off from coaching. Belichick, 72, has been spending a lot of time with his 23-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson. The couple recently went viral for their 2024 Halloween costume - it was pretty special. Belichick has still been working, doing a lot of media work for ESPN, NFL Films and other outlets. But he's certainly enjoying a lot more free time than he would have if he was still coaching.
Perhaps Belichick has been able to get out and vote as a result. Election Day is less than 24 hours away, after all.
Over the years, Belichick hasn't said much outside of football topics - and even with football topics, he's usually pretty short spoken - but he has made it clear where he stands politically.
The longtime NFL head coach, who won six Super Bowls with the Patriots and two with the Giants - appears to be right leaning. He's shown his support for Donald Trump in the past, even writing a letter for him in 2016.
Belichick praised Trump for his "tremendous campaign" and took shots at the media for their "negative" and "slanted" coverage of the election. He made it clear that he was favoring Trump over Hillary Clinton.
Bill Belichick did indeed write Donald Trump a letter. The letter Trump read from Belichick is accurate. Those were Bill's words. #WBZ
— Steve Burton (@SteveBurtonWBZ) November 8, 2016
Belichick ultimately decided to back away from his support of Trump in 2021, though. Belichick was set to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Trump in January of 2021. However, following the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, Belichick rejected the honor.
"Above all, I'm an American citizen with great reverence for our nation's values, freedom and democracy," he said.
He added: "One of the most rewarding things in my professional career took place in 2020 when, through the great leadership within our team, conversations about social justice, equality and human rights moved to the forefront and became actions. Continuing those efforts while remaining true to the people, team and country that I love outweigh the benefits of any individual award."
Belichick's old quarterback, Tom Brady, appears to be on the same side. Brady has shown support for Trump in the past, though feels media coverage of his politics is unfair.
"I think [the press] just mischaracterized a lot," Brady has said of the media. "My personality isn't ever one to insult anybody. I have plenty of my own flaws. I'm not here to point out anyone else's flaws. There are things that I agree with. There are things that I don't. There are things I agree with my wife about. There are things that I don't. I love her to death, but we don't always see eye to eye. I don't see eye to eye with anyone. And I'm not responsible for what other people say. I'm really responsible for what I say. So if people want to say things that I said or that I'm about, that's up to them, and I'm not going to respond to all those things all the time either."
Neither Brady nor Belichick have spoken out ahead of the Election Day on Tuesday, but perhaps they will.
