The Unbreakable Bond: Exploring the Deep Connections Between Bill Belichick and Nick Saban
Bill Belichick and Nick Saban: A dynamic duo whose connection transcends the football field Explore their journey from friends and coworkers to formidable rivals in the realm of coaching
Bill Belichick and Nick Saban have been many things to each other over their illustrious coaching careers.
Friends. Coworkers. Rivals. Confidantes.
They are probably distantly related, both citing their shared Croatian heritage. "There has to be some sort of family connection, maybe even as distant as cousins," Belichick mentioned in the 2019 HBO documentary "Belichick & Saban: The Art of Coaching."
Saban remarked on the similarities between himself and Belichick, stating, "I think there's a lot of similarities. Now whether it comes from lineage or something else I really don't know. I always thought we sort of thought a little bit alike."
This week, the two also shared the connection of their historically successful team-coach partnerships coming to an end. Saban announced his retirement as head football coach of the University of Alabama on Wednesday, while Belichick announced his mutual agreement to part ways with the NFL's New England Patriots on Thursday.
Alabama head coach Nick Saban looks on during January 1's College Football Playoff semifinal against Michigan in Pasadena, California.
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
Alabama football head coach Nick Saban, seven-time national champion, is retiring
The timing of their connection is likely coincidental, but similar to founding fathers John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, who passed away on the same day, their interwoven lives spanning over 70 years holds symbolic significance. Professionally, Belichick and Saban's careers have progressed in parallel, leading to the pinnacle of their respective sports and dominating the professional and college games for the last 25 years. They have collectively won 13 championships as head coaches. Additionally, they worked together with the NFL's Cleveland Browns for three seasons in the early 1990s and faced each other four times in the 2000s when Saban was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins.
The personal connections between Belichick and Saban run deep. Both born just six months apart to football coach fathers, they first became friends in 1982 when Saban worked with Belichick's dad. Since then, they have met every year. In "The Art of Coaching" documentary, they expressed their shared dislike for modern technology, their laser-like focus on every detail, their struggles with work-life balance, and their mutual admiration for each other.
Belichick spoke highly of Saban, saying "Theres nobody I respect more in football than Nick Saban and I dont think theres anybody thats a better coach than Nick Saban. What hes accomplished as a football coach is I think unparalleled. I look up to him. I admire what hes done, and Ive learned a ton from Nick."
"Sometimes people have a genuine love and respect for someone," Saban said. "It's wonderful to witness their success and see them continue to thrive. I'm not sure how many people can truly grasp that kind of bond. That's how I feel about Bill."
From friends to coworkers
Nick Saban, right, served as defensive coordinator under head coach Bill Belichick, behind him to his right, on the Cleveland Browns from 1991 to 1994.
Both Saban and Belichick, hailing from West Virginia and Tennessee respectively, were raised under the influence of their football coach fathers who instilled a sense of "tough love," as revealed in the documentary. Following their college football careers, with Belichick at Wesleyan University and Saban at Kent State, they both transitioned into coaching.
In 1982, Saban began working at the Naval Academy, where Steve Belichick, assistant football coach and father of Bill Belichick, was also employed. During his time there, Saban and Bill Belichick developed a friendship while visiting family. "We were the same age, both young guys trying to make it in the business. It was only natural for us to become friends," Saban recalled.
Their coaching careers took different paths, both focusing on the defensive side of the ball. Belichick achieved success as the defensive coordinator with the New York Giants, winning two Super Bowls. When Belichick took on the role of head coach for the Cleveland Browns in 1991, he had Saban in mind for his defensive coordinator, and actively pursued him to leave his head coaching position at the University of Toledo.
Bill Belichick looks on during the New England Patriots' game against the Denver Broncos.
Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe/Getty Images
Legendary coach Bill Belichick has officially announced his departure from the New England Patriots after an impressive 24 seasons and six Super Bowl victories.
"I hired Nick as my first coach and he was the best coach I ever hired," Belichick stated. "Nick was truly my top partner and I had full confidence in him on every aspect."
They collaborated for three seasons and played a significant role in transforming the Browns into a formidable defense that, in 1994, allowed the fewest points in the league. During this time, Belichick coined the phrase "Do your job," which both coaches adopted as a life motto. The concept behind this mantra is to have each coach and player concentrate on their specific responsibilities without being concerned about anything else. They were both extremely detail-oriented, almost to the point of being dictatorial, and were intense figures on the sidelines.
"One of the things that I appreciated most about working for you," Saban stated in the documentary, "was that I always knew what to expect and what you expected from me, whereas in other places I worked, this was never clearly defined."
"I've attempted to instill that in our building," he remarked. The partnership came to an end in 1994 when Saban departed from Cleveland to become the head coach at Michigan State University. Belichick was let go as the head coach of the Browns after five seasons, concluding his time with a record of 36-44.
From coworkers to rivals
With the turn of the milennium came the championships.
Belichick seized his second major opportunity in 2000 when he was appointed head coach and de facto general manager of the New England Patriots under owner Bob Kraft. In his second season, Tom Brady, a relatively unknown sixth round pick from the University of Michigan, took over as quarterback and led the Patriots to three out of the next four Super Bowl victories.
In the same year, Saban took on the role of head coach at Louisiana State University and guided the Tigers to an NCAA co-championship in 2003.
Then in 2005, their rivalry intensified when Saban was appointed head coach of the Miami Dolphins, pitting him against Belichick in the same division. They tied 2-2 in their matchups over the next two seasons before Saban left to become the head coach at the University of Alabama.
Saban and Belichick went 2-2 against each other from 2005-06 as coach of the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots, respectively.
Joe Rimkus Jr./Miami Herald/Tribune News Service/Getty Images
They both became the undisputed best coaches in their respective leagues. Belichick and the Patriots went to the Super Bowl five more times, winning in 2014, 2016, and 2018. He holds the NFL record for winning six Super Bowl titles and ranks second all-time with 333 total victories as a head coach, with 31 career playoff wins, the most for any head coach.
Saban led Alabama to win the championship in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, and 2020, establishing the program as a perennial championship contender. Throughout his head coaching career, he achieved a record of 292-71-1 and never had a losing season.
During this period, they consistently held yearly meetings, with Belichick occasionally emulating a unique play call from Saban's Alabama teams.
In the HBO documentary, Belichick admitted, "I observe their strategies and study their plays, because if it's effective for Nick and he's implementing it, then it's likely suitable for me." HBO is a part of Warner Bros. Discovery, which also has ownership of CNN.
The days of Saban, 72, overseeing demanding job responsibilities are now behind him as he officially retired on Wednesday. Citing health concerns and the difficulty of maintaining his preferred level of performance, Saban expressed his lack of confidence in continuing to handle the rigors of his role. "Last season was tough for me from a health perspective. There wasn't anything major, but it just became harder to sustain and operate the way I'm accustomed to," Saban explained to ESPN. "So, at my age, it's inevitable that I have to make this decision."
Belichick, 71, is stepping down from the Patriots after two consecutive losing seasons, leading to a 4-13 record this year. Despite the amicable split mentioned by the Patriots owner, Kraft, it is uncertain whether Belichick's coaching days are truly over.
"I have many fond memories and thoughts about the Patriots and I will always be a Patriot," Belichick stated. "I look forward to returning here, but for now, we are parting ways."
