Harry Carson opens up about the ‘completely different’ Bill Belichick he knows

Harry Carson opens up about the ‘completely different’ Bill Belichick he knows

They go back 44 years, before they won Super Bowl XXI together, long before Harry Carson entered the Hall of Fame, long before Bill Belichick won his six Super Bowl championships with Tom Brady, long before the rampant speculation has been swirling about Patriots owner Robert Kraft parting with the HC of the NEP following these last two games of the season.

The Belichick that I know, Carson said, is completely different than the Belichick that most people know.

Carson had just notched the first of his nine Pro Bowl honors when he first met Ray Perkins special teams coach at Pace University training camp. Belichick was 27. Carson was 25.

He was out on the field timing hang time for Dave Jennings punts, Carson said.

The young Belichick didnt initially have much street cred as a former lacrosse player when he inherited the Crunch Bunch Carson, Lawrence Taylor, Brad Van Pelt and Brian Kelley after adding linebackers coach to his rsum in 1980.

We were skeptics, and he made believers out of us, Carson said.

Harry_Carson_opens_up_about_the__completely_different__Bill_Belichick_he_knows5Bill Belichick might coach his final game with the Patriots in Week 18. APAll the way up to Super Bowl XXI, when Belichick was defensive coordinator, when Carson doused Bill Parcells twice with Gatorade baths following the Giants win over John Elway and the Broncos … and Belichick once.

I dont think he was expecting it because it was more about Parcells getting it than him getting it, Carson recalled. I think he enjoyed it. He didnt run from it.

Carson retired as Giants captain after the 1988 season and the Browns hired Belichick as the NFLs youngest head coach following the Giants Super Bowl XXV win over the Bills.

When I left the Giants I wrote Browns owner Art Modell, Carson said. I sent him a letter of recommendation for Belichick.

Harry_Carson_opens_up_about_the__completely_different__Bill_Belichick_he_knows5Harry Carson has known Bill Belichick for 44 years. APBelichick reunited with Parcells in New England in 1996 and then with the Jets, where he succeeded Parcells for 24 hours before resigning as HC of the NYJ.

There had to be a reason why he did not want that position, Carson said. I just figured he was doing the best thing for himself.

When Belichick won his first Super Bowl in 2002?

I wasnt surprised. I was very happy for him, Carson said.

Belichick had won three Super Bowls by the time Carson was about to finally be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton in 2006.

Harry_Carson_opens_up_about_the__completely_different__Bill_Belichick_he_knows5Bill Belichick won his third Super Bowl title in February 2005. APHarry_Carson_opens_up_about_the__completely_different__Bill_Belichick_he_knows5Harry Carson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006, as Bill Belichick continued constructing his Patriots dynasty. APThere was a dinner for me at Gallaghers in the city, Carson said. And Parcells was there, Belichick was there, Willie Jeffries, my college South Carolina State coach, was there … it was a tremendous honor that those guys would come back and be a part of congratulating me for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Carson recalls Belichick bringing the 2019 Patriots to Canton before joint practices with the Lions.

One of the things I admire about Belichick is he tries to get players to understand the history of the game of football, he said. I was in Canton for the induction ceremony and he carved out time to bring his team to Canton for the Pro Football Hall of Fame to get a good understanding of the history of the game.

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One of the other things that he has done is he has worked to bring more individuals or young people or young people of color into coaching and management.

Belichick showed up to congratulate former Patriots cornerback Ty Law on his HOF induction.

He stays behind the scenes, Carson said. You would not know that he was there unless you saw him backstage. If he had a player who was going into the Hall of Fame, he would come and be there to congratulate the player backstage. He was not one to be in the spotlight. I have pictures of him backstage.

When Carson began to organize the Giants 25th anniversary reunion of Super Bowl XXI in Secaucus, he contacted four men Parcells, Belichick, Taylor and Phil Simms before proceeding.

It was like being back in the locker room in 86, Carson said.

A piece of Belichicks heart has never stopped beating DC of the NYG.

I only know the Giant side of him, Carson said. I also will venture to say that when there have been players who have had issues, wheher it be mental or financial or whatever, he has been there to help the players who played for him in any way possible.

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Check out more newslettersCarson was conflicted attending the Giants 10-7 win over the Patriots on his 70th birthday, Nov. 26.

My wife gave me this really big birthday dinner the night before in Edgewater, Carson said. And she asked me who would I like to be there, and I said, Belichick. Hes in town. Hes a friend. And then I thought to myself, Bill Belichicks not gonna come to a birthday celebration. Hes about focusing on the game.

Carson speaks or texts with the monkish Belichick infrequently during the season.

I texted him earlier this season when things werent going all that great, and I just said, Hang in there, Carson said. And he texted me back and he said, Thanks. So theres not a whole lot to say. Im pulling for him, and want him to do well. Hes one of our guys.

He feels for his friend at the end of this 4-11 season.

With going to Super Bowl after Super Bowl, it probably is very difficult for him to deal with at this time, Carson said.

Belichick (336 wins) has done a bad job as GM and if he wants to remain with the Patriots for a 25th season and beyond and hunt down Don Shula (347) for all-time regular-season and playoff wins, he might have to relinquish control over personnel … if Kraft allows it. Compound that with Mac Jones flaming out and here we are.

Bill is Bill. When you see him in a press conference, that is the same way that he would be in meetings, that dry, monotone delivery, Carson said. Thats Bill Belichick. I think if you ask any of the players who have played for him, they played for one of the absolute best coaches to coach in the National Football League.

Harry_Carson_opens_up_about_the__completely_different__Bill_Belichick_he_knows5The Patriots have navigated a brutal 4-11 season under Bill Belichick in 2023. API know you want to get into this, Can Belichick win without Brady, can Brady win without Belichick? I understand all that. I can only go off of what Ive experienced, and quite frankly, he made me a better player. If he didnt make other players better players, perhaps they werent listening. From where I sit, I find myself to be very lucky and very privileged to play for one of the best coaches to ever coach in the National Football League.

Carson said he believes Belichick, 71, would want to keep coaching wherever it is.

I think hed want to stay, Carson said. If he cant? I think if the opportunity presented itself, yeah, he probably would wind up going someplace else, he said.

If this is his last couple of weeks in football or with the Patriots, Ill send him a text and Ill say, Job well done. And lets get together for dinner, Carson said.

It is difficult to believe Belichick would want to go out like this.

If it is his last year and if he doesnt coach anymore, Harry Carson said, Ill reserve a seat for him in Canton.

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