Your team vs. The Hoodie

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick turns 70 on Saturday, which is the point when he once thought he’d say goodbye to coaching.

In the NFL Films-produced “A Football Life” feature more than a decade ago, Belichick famously said: “I don’t want to be like Marv Levy and coaching when I’m in my 70s.”

But since that time, he has slowly showed signs of softening his stance.

“When I said it, maybe I didn’t know what 70 felt like,” Belichick acknowledged in a 2019 radio interview.

Now that he’s about to hit the number, Belichick leaves no doubt. He’s all-in.

Late last month at the NFL’s annual meeting, he hustled into various league meetings, and other times was seen strolling barefoot along the beach as waves rippled in. It’s a good life and he’s not ready to give it up.

“I enjoy doing it,” Belichick said, dressed in a colorful button-down shirt, shorts and sandals. “It’s a comprehensive job. It’s a lot. But it’s fun. It beats working.”

This will be Belichick’s 48th season coaching in the NFL, and 23rd as Patriots head coach. His 47 consecutive years as an NFL coach are the most in league history, passing the 45 by Dick LeBeau. The only other NFL coach with at least 40 consecutive NFL coaching seasons is Tom Moore (41).

Since coming to the Patriots in 2000, Belichick is 254-99-0 in the regular season and 30-12 in the postseason. His 97-38 record against AFC East teams (including playoffs) reflects his divisional domination for the majority of his tenure.

He’s also the longest tenured head coach with the same team, and it isn’t close. Mike Tomlin, hired by the Pittsburgh Steelers seven years after Belichick landed in New England, is next on the list.

In September, Belichick will become the fifth NFL head coach to coach a game in his 70s, joining Romeo Crennel, George Halas, Levy and Pete Carroll. In a further reflection of his longevity, consider that the other 31 teams have employed 213 head coaches (including interim and ’22 hires) since he was hired in New…