Back to the New England Patriots Newsfeed

Kevin O’Connell becomes the latest former Patriots player to find success in coaching

Bill Belichick is the best head coach in the NFL and a lock to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame on first ballot. For all his success, there is one popular albeit a bit far-fetched criticism of him: almost all of his former assistants who went on to find success away from the New England Patriots have struggled.

From Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel, to Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia, to, most recently, Joe Judge and Brian Flores, Belichick’s coaching tree is anything but as legendary as its namesake. Obviously, there are exceptions: Bill O’Brien was quite successful in Houston, while Alabama head coach Nick Saban cannot be left out of the conversation either.