A look at former Bill Belichick assistants (and players) who became NFL head coaches
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, left, speaks with special teams coach Joe Judge, right, during practice on Dec. 20, 2018, in Foxborough, Mass. Credit: AP/Steven Senne
Joe Judge is the latest branch to sprout from the Bill Belichick coaching tree.
Judge, the Giants’ head coach, is the 12th former Belichick assistant or player to land an NFL head coaching job, dating to Belichick’s time with the Cleveland Browns. Some of them have found success. Others, not so much.
Here’s a look at every former Belichick assistant who has graduated to an NFL head coaching job, as well as two of Belichick’s former players who joined the coaching ranks. (Records are as of Dec. 2, 2020.)
Al Groh
Under Belichick: Browns linebackers coach (1992)
NFL head coaching stint: Jets (2000)
Career record: 9-7
Romeo Crennel
Under Belichick: Patriots defensive coordinator (2001-04)
NFL head coaching stints: Cleveland Browns (2005-08), Kansas City Chiefs (2011-12); Houston Texans (2020, interim)
Career record: 32-58
Record in first season as head coach: 6-10
Nick Saban
Under Belichick: Browns defensive coordinator (1991-94)
NFL head coaching stint: Miami Dolphins (2005-06)
Career record: 15-17
Record in first season as head coach: 9-7
*Saban left Miami for Alabama, where he has won five of his six NCAA championships and has gone 152-23 in 13 seasons.
Eric Mangini
Under Belichick: Patriots defensive backs coach (2000-04); defensive coordinator (2005)
NFL head coaching stints: Jets (2006-08), Cleveland Browns (2009-10)
Career record: 33-47
Record in first season as head coach: 10-6
Jim Schwartz
Under Belichick: Browns research assistant/scout (1993-95)
NFL head coaching stint: Detroit Lions (2009-13)
Career record: 29-51
Record in first season as head coach: 2-14
Josh McDaniels
Under Belichick: Patriots personnel assistant (2001); defensive assistant (2002-03); quarterbacks coach (2004-08 and 2012-19); offensive coordinator (2006-08 and 2012-19)
NFL head coaching stint: Broncos (2009-10)
Career record: 11-17
Record in first season as head coach: 8-8
Bill O’Brien
Under Belichick: Patriots offensive assistant (2007); wide receivers coach (2008); quarterbacks coach (2009-10); offensive coordinator (2010)
NFL head coaching stints: Houston Texans (2014-2020)
Career record: 52-48
Record in first season as head coach: 9-7
Matt Patricia
Under Belichick: Patriots offensive assistant (2004); assistant offensive line coach (2005); linebackers coach (2006-10); safeties coach (2011); defensive coordinator (2012-17)
NFL head coaching stints: Detroit Lions (2018-2020)
Career record: 13-29-1
Record in first season as head coach: 6-10
Brian Flores
Under Belichick: Patriots scouting assistant (2004-05); pro scout (2006-07); special teams assistant (2008-09); assistant offense/special teams coach (2010); defensive assistant (2011); safeties coach (2012-15); linebackers coach (2016-18)
NFL head coaching stint: Miami Dolphins (2019-present)
Career record: 12-15
Record in first season as head coach: 5-11
Joe Judge
Under Belichick: Patriots assistant special teams coach (2012-14); special teams coordinator (2015-19); wide receivers coach (2019).
NFL head coaching stint: Giants (2020-present)
Career record: 4-7
Mike Vrabel
Under Belichick: Patriots linebacker (2001-08)
NFL head coaching stint: Titans (2018-present)
Career record: 18-14
Record in first season as head coach: 9-7
Kliff Kingsbury
Under Belichick: Patriots quarterback/offensive quality control coach (2003)
NFL head coaching stint: Arizona Cardinals (2019-present)
Career record: 11-15-1
Record in first season as head coach: 5-10-1
Nick Klopsis is Newsday.com's sports editor. He often can be found studying NFL and college football film for his latest draft breakdown.
