Patriots

Berj Najarian and Julian Edelman recalled the ‘slight expression’ that indicated Bill Belichick’s frustration

Najarian also recalled a "memorable" team skit in which Belichick sang.

By Hayden Bird

July 24, 2024

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Few people had a better vantage point from which to observe Bill Belichick during his long run as Patriots head coach than former director of football/head coach administration Berj Najarian.

Najarian, now the chief of staff for the Boston College football program, worked for Belichick with the Patriots for 24 years prior to taking the new role earlier in the year. During his tenure, Najarian was not only a part of the organization during all six Super Bowl wins, but witnessed innumerable informal Belichick moments.

Away from the monotone press conferences, the Patriots coach has always been known to show much more personality in private. Najarian recently recalled some of the memorable highlights during an episode of ex-New England wide receiver Julian Edelman’s “Games with Names” podcast.

The two former members of the Patriots organization naturally have an understanding of the Belichick subtleties, including the exact reaction that most stressed out New England players and coaches.

“It’s not like all the time in your face,” Najarian explained. “He gets after players and staff for sure. It’s not that you’re trying to avoid that. You’re trying to avoid the most slight expression.”

Najarian gave an example of Belichick’s version of a disappointed expression, with which Edelman concurred.

Given that the podcast episode was a discussion of the “Tuna Bowl” in 1997 (when former Patriots head coach Bill Parcells returned to New England leading the rival Jets), Najarian compared Belichick to his fellow Bill.

“It’s not like in your face,” he explained. “That’s a Parcells fear, like that could happen. But with Bill it’s more of those [subtle] types of things that you’re trying to avoid.

“It’s kind of like disappointing your father,” summarized Edelman.

Of course, Najarian also got to see some of Belichick’s humor to offset his sterner reactions.

Asked by Edelman about the best rookie skit that he saw — referencing a longstanding tradition of teams making rookie players perform for veterans — Najarian replied with a slightly different answer.

“It wasn’t a rookie skit because Bill was in it,” Najarian explained. “It was just a team building thing. We broke the team up and the coaches, and everyone had a role in it. They reenacted a Broadway musical and Bill actually sang in this.”

Najarian even listed the song choice.

“Love Potion No. 9. He sang [it] in front of the team. That was a memorable one,” said the former Belichick assistant. “Not a rookie skit, but it was kind of like talent show-ish.”

Edelman, who retired after the 2020 season, inquired when this had taken place.

“Probably around 2020-2021, maybe.”

Edelman couldn’t help but joke at the idea of Belichick singing.

“Oliver Twist, starring Bill Belichick.”