Tedy Bruschi says Bill Belichick’s comment on past Patriots success is ‘out of place’

Earlier this week, longtime New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick decided to break with his usual pattern of giving reporters short, vague answers.

Asked about the current state of the franchise, Belichick said “the past 25 years” should leave Patriots fans hopeful for the future.

The remark drew criticism from legendary linebacker Tedy Bruschi, a key contributor to the Patriots’ three Super Bowl victories.

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Bruschi, who works as an NFL analyst, explained why he disagreed with his former coach’s statement during a recent edition of “Get Up!” from ESPN. morning program.

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Bruschi said Belichick’s comments were hypocritical.

“I don’t know how many times I’ve been in meetings with Coach Belichick, and the very first meeting is, ‘I don’t care about anything in the past. We win the Super Bowl. Last year doesn’t matter. Pro Bowls don’t matter, All-Pros don’t matter. It doesn’t matter what you guys did last year. It’s about who we go forward,” Bruschi said, via NESN’s Adam London.

Former NFL linebacker and University of Arizona alumnus Tedy Bruschi stands with players before taking the field as coach during Arizona’s spring game at Arizona Stadium on April 24, 2021 , in Tucson, Arizona. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Bruschi added that the 70-year-old coach’s response sent the wrong message.

“That’s what good teams do. Players hold coaches accountable as well when they get a message. At the moment Coach Belichick is off message.

“It’s something his players shouldn’t hear – that he bases some optimism on the fans on ‘what I’ve done for the last 25 years’. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard Bill mention something like that when it comes to all of his work. It surprised me.”

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick reacts after a game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on October 30, 2022, in East Rutherford, NJ (Elsa/Getty Images)

Belichick usually only focuses on the future. After a game ends, he consistently ignores any questions about what happened and will only answer questions about an upcoming opponent.

The Patriots did not enjoy the success that many had grown accustomed to during the Tom Brady days. In the three seasons without Brady, New England failed to win a playoff game.

In Brady’s first season with the Buccaneers, he won his seventh Super Bowl.

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The Patriots are coming off a turbulent 8-9 season in which 2021 first-round pick Mac Jones regressed in his second season. Jones was replaced by Bailey Zappe, a 2022 fourth-round draft pick from Western Kentucky, for four games after Jones suffered an ankle injury.

Belichick was asked earlier this week about the quarterback’s situation heading into next season, but he declined to publicly commit to Jones as the team’s 2023 starter.