Bill Belichick's son explains decision to leave Patriots

Legendary head coach Bill Belichick wasn't the only member of his family to leave the New England Patriots this past offseason.

One of Bill's sons, Steve Belichick, followed his father out of Gillette Stadium over the winter, but unlike the future Hall of Famer, Steve is continuing his work on a football sideline in the fall.

The 37-year-old was hired to be the University of Washington's new defensive coordinator in early February.

Steve discussed his decision to leave the Patriots on Thursday.

"I wasn't eager to leave (the Patriots) or anything like that," he said, according to a report by Jeff Howe of The Athletic. "You just keep your options open. Stuff happens. We all have different reasons for (taking different jobs), but it just felt right."

Steve, whose younger brother, Brian, is New England's safeties coach, worked under his father from 2012-2023, first joining the Patriots as a defensive assistant and later serving as the team's defensive play-caller and outside linebackers coach.

He worked with Huskies first-year head coach Jedd Fisch in 2020 when he was the quarterbacks coach in New England.

Steve Belichick and Fisch join a program that went 14-1 last season and fell to Michigan in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.

"It kind of happened organically," Steve said. "It’s cool to be out here. It’s weird how it happened. Everything fell into place, and I’m pumped to be out here."

The former Rutgers University long snapper said that his decision to depart the AFC East club had nothing to do with his father.

"I’ve never looked at it like that, like I’m living under a shadow," Steve said. "I’m always going to be myself. He’s my dad. He plays an enormous role in my life — in my profession, in everything I do in life as a father, as a husband, all that stuff. I’ve never really seen it like that. I’m not like, ‘Oh, I don’t have to live in his shadow anymore.’ I’ve never thought of it like that, whether it was now or a year ago or five years ago. That hasn’t really crossed my mind."