Belichick Hired: But Not Bill - Son Steve Belichick Likely New DC For Washington Huskies

A Belichick has a new job.

Steve Belichick, that is. Belichick, 36, is the son of former NFL coaching legend Bill Belichick and has been the New England Patriots' outside linebackers coach since 2020 under his dad. He is expected to be named the new defensive coordinator for the Washington Huskies, according to multiple reports.

The only thing that could stop Belichick from moving to Seattle to coach the Huskies' defense would be an effort by the Patriots and new head coach Jerod Mayo to keep him, a source said, but added that is not expected to happen.

Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick hired his son Steve to coach on the defensive side before the 2012 season. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The Patriots fired Bill Belichick on Jan. 11 after a 4-13 season in 2023. Belichick won six Super Bowls as the Patriots coach from 2001-18. But Belichick did not land a new NFL head coaching job since, and the league is fresh out of openings.

Washington Huskies Just Hiring A Name In Steve Belichick Of New England Patriots?

Steve Belichick became a defensive assistant under his dad at New England in 2012 without any prior coaching experience. After four seasons, he moved to safeties coach for four seasons from 2016-2019. From 2020-24, Belichick coached the outside linebackers. In 2020, Belichick got to know new Patriots' quarterback coach Jedd Fisch before Fisch left to become the Arizona Wildcats' head coach from 2021-23.

Fisch became the Washington Huskies' new head coach last month after Kalen DeBoer replaced Nick Saban at Alabama, and Fisch has tapped Belichick. Fisch may also be bringing over New England running backs coach Vinnie Sunseri to Washington. Sunseri coached on the defensive side at New England in 2020 before coaching running backs from 2021-23.

Bill Belichick, 71, interviewed multiple times for the Atlanta Falcons' head coaching job last month, but the Falcons instead hired former Falcons and Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris to be their head coach.

Washington is clearly taking a chance with the hiring of Belichick. He obviously will have a recruiting advantage by name alone, but is Steve Belichick ready to run an entire defense? Belichick has much more playing experience in lacrosse at Rutgers than in football. He was a long snapper on the Rutgers football team in 2011 under coach Greg Schiano.

Maybe Jedd Fisch saw something in him during their brief time in New England.

Or maybe Fisch is paving the way to also hire Bill Belichick as the greatest analyst of all time before he does land another NFL head coaching job. That would be a great strategy.