Throughout his storied NFL coaching career, Bill Belichick has always had a rocky relationship with the local media in New England. Even now, with a new role in sports media, it appears that Belichick’s rapport with Boston’s press hasn’t changed much.
Belichick is keeping himself busy this football season with numerous media commitments. He holds a weekly spot on The Pat McAfee Show, serves as a regular guest on ESPN2’s ManningCast alternate stream for Monday Night Football, works as an analyst on Inside The NFL, and participates in the Let’s Go! podcast.
These varied roles have brought him back into the public eye in a different capacity, giving him a platform to share his football insights beyond coaching.
During these media appearances, Belichick offers his analysis on a range of NFL teams and their performances.
However, as far as Fred Toucher of 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston is concerned, Belichick isn’t giving his former team, the New England Patriots, enough credit when they do well. According to Toucher, this reluctance to praise the Patriots stems from Belichick’s firing by the organization earlier this year.
On Tuesday’s edition of the Toucher and Hardy show, Fred Toucher openly criticized Belichick for not acknowledging the Patriots’ recent successes, which he perceives as petty behavior. Toucher suggested that Belichick’s unwillingness to compliment his former team was part of a broader attempt to hold a grudge.
“Good old Belichick, who bad-mouthed the team again last night,” Toucher said. “He is such a d**k. I can’t believe Patriots fans don’t look at the guy now and think, ‘What a petty little prick.’ Because even when they do well, he doesn’t give them credit for doing well. When they do bad, I can see him crapping all over them. Because at least that’s in the guise of doing your job. But when they do good and you don’t give them any credit… Literally make the statement ‘Well, it’s really not so much about the Patriots as it is the Bears.’ That’s holding a vendetta.”
Toucher seemed to be referring to Belichick’s most recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, where Belichick commented on the Patriots’ recent win against the Chicago Bears. Instead of praising the Patriots’ defensive effort, Belichick largely placed blame on the Bears for their offensive struggles.
“Well, I think he’s done a good job when he’s been able to scramble and run around,” Belichick said when discussing Bears quarterback Drake Maye. “He made some plays on play-action where he can separate the defense when the running game draws some of the coverage and linebackers up. But you know, to me, the bigger thing is where the Bears are. They can’t protect, they can’t move the ball, and they can’t score any points.”
Toucher clearly took issue with Belichick’s focus on Chicago’s shortcomings rather than crediting the Patriots for their strong performance. In his opinion, Belichick’s comments were another example of the former coach downplaying his former team’s success.
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The Boston radio host didn’t stop there. He went on to make things personal, bringing up Belichick’s relationship with his 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson. “All I know is this guy’s got photos to take,” Toucher said, referencing Hudson’s recent Instagram post featuring Belichick. “The next one, maybe he’ll be the mermaid and she’ll be the fisherman. Reverse the roles. I’m telling Jordon, maybe not yourself in the photo so much next time. Bill in a little boy sailor suit with a big lollipop and a balloon. Maybe you can dress like a hot librarian scolding him for bringing the balloon and the lollipop in the library.”
Toucher’s comments seemed to cross a line, turning a professional critique into a personal attack. His remarks about Belichick’s private life were clearly intended to mock, adding a layer of bitterness to the discussion.
On paper, it seems that Toucher’s vitriol might be driven more by a personal vendetta than by any legitimate critique of Belichick’s current media work.
Belichick’s analysis, while blunt, wasn’t entirely out of line. The Bears, who have struggled to move the ball and haven’t scored a touchdown in their last two games, have been a focal point of criticism throughout the league.
While the Patriots may have deserved some credit for their lopsided win, it’s not difficult to argue that Chicago’s ineptitude played a significant role in the outcome.
Regardless, Fred Toucher clearly feels that Belichick harbors a grudge against his former team. Whether this perception is accurate or merely a reflection of Toucher’s own biases remains to be seen.
One thing is certain: Belichick’s transition into the media spotlight has not softened his edges, nor has it won over his critics in Boston. For now, the legendary coach remains as polarizing as ever, with his every word dissected and debated by those who have followed his career closely.
