Bill Belichick made his anticipated appearance on the Monday Night Football ManningCast during the Week 2 matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and the Philadelphia Eagles, and as expected, the conversation turned to some of Belichick’s most iconic moments—particularly his Super Bowl LI victory over the Falcons. With two teams involved that Belichick had previously defeated in Super Bowls, Peyton and Eli Manning couldn’t resist asking him to reflect on that historic game.
Peyton Manning brought up the Patriots’ incredible comeback from a 28–3 deficit to defeat the Falcons, sparking one of the most memorable moments in NFL history. Belichick admitted that even after the win, he could hardly believe what had just transpired. “Honestly, after the game, I wasn’t sure if I was dreaming,” Belichick said. He recalled heading back to his hotel room and re-watching the end of the game just to make sure it really happened.
But the most memorable part of the conversation came when Belichick shared a humorous story about Falcons owner Arthur Blank during that fateful Super Bowl. According to Belichick, Blank was already celebrating victory before the game was over, a moment that clearly stuck with the Patriots coach.
“I remember Arthur Blank down on the sideline in the fourth quarter, celebrating when they were ahead,” Belichick said with a sly grin, surprising the Mannings with the detail. Eli and Peyton were taken aback that Belichick had noticed the Falcons owner during such a pivotal moment. Belichick continued, “Arthur’s always been a sharp dresser, he looked good down there, but I’m sitting there thinking, ‘We’re getting beat and here he is celebrating.’ I’m like, ‘Jesus,’ but anyway…”
The story got plenty of laughs from the Mannings and viewers alike, but Belichick didn’t stop there. He took another shot at the Falcons organization later in the broadcast, bringing up a recent offseason interaction that had left him feeling slighted. Belichick revealed that he had interviewed twice for the Falcons’ head coaching position, but the team ultimately decided to go in a different direction. It was clear that the snub still irked the six-time Super Bowl champion.
Belichick took the opportunity to throw some shade at the Falcons’ front office, referencing a recent controversy where the team had been fined for making illegal contact with free agents before the official signing period. “When they mentioned Darnell Mooney, I couldn’t help but think of that whole mess,” Belichick quipped. “Mooney, Woerner, Cousins—they signed those guys illegally, got fined, lost a draft pick, the whole deal.”
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The jabs were sharp, and Belichick delivered them with his usual deadpan humor, leaving no doubt that he wasn’t holding back his feelings about the Falcons. His comments likely put an end to any possibility of him ever landing the Falcons’ head coaching job in the future, but Belichick didn’t seem too concerned.
Between reminiscing about his unforgettable Super Bowl win and calling out the Falcons for their offseason missteps, Belichick’s appearance on the ManningCast was filled with the dry wit and blunt honesty that fans have come to expect from the legendary coach.
While his chances of working with the Falcons may be slim after those comments, Belichick seemed to enjoy revisiting his past triumphs at their expense.
