9: 23 PM ET
-
Mike ReissESPN Workers Creator
- Covered Patriots since 1997
- Joined ESPN in 2009
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — President Donald Trump plans to award Unusual England Patriots coach Bill Belichick the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Thursday, in line with a pair of reports.
A spokesperson for the Patriots did no longer reply to a request for commentary.
The Presidential Medal of Freedom became once established by John F. Kennedy in 1963, and it is awarded by the president to folks who contain made distinctive contributions to the safety of national interests of The US, to world peace or to cultural of diversified distinguished public or interior most endeavors.
The glory for Belichick comes because the U.S. Home of Representatives is growing stress to drive Trump from office earlier than the live of his interval of time on Jan. 20, after Trump incited a mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday while Congress became once within the skill of confirming Joe Biden as his successor.
Trump has recently chosen quite loads of sports figures and political backers for the distinction. Corridor of Popularity golfers Annika Sorenstam and Gary Player, along with the slack Olympian Babe Didrikson Zaharias, obtained the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Thursday.
Belichick, 68, honest concluded his 46th season within the NFL and 21st as Patriots coach. He has led the Patriots to 6 Good Bowl championships, joining George Halas and Curly Lambeau because the easiest coaches with six championships for the reason that league began postseason play in 1933.
Belichick’s 311 victories (typical season and playoffs mixed) are third all time, within the support of Don Shula (347) and Halas (324).
Belichick’s connection to Trump became once within the news within the days earlier than Trump became once elected as president in November 2016.
At a advertising and marketing campaign rally in Manchester, Unusual Hampshire, Trump learn a letter to the crowd that he acknowledged Belichick sent to him.
The letter, in line with Trump, learn: “Congratulations on a gigantic advertising and marketing campaign. You’ve handled an inconceivable slanted and unfavourable media and contain advance out beautifully. You’ve proved to be the final observe competitor and fighter. Your leadership is unbelievable. I contain continuously had gigantic admire for you, nevertheless the toughness and perseverance you contain displayed over the final twelve months is grand. Optimistically tomorrow to come’s election results will give the chance to originate The US extensive but again. Supreme desires for huge results tomorrow to come. Bill Belichick.”
Belichick later suggested journalists he wrote the letter out of friendship and loyalty.
“I’ve obtained plenty of inquiries relative to a imprint that I wrote to Donald on Monday. Our friendship goes support decades and I deem anybody that is spent bigger than 5 minutes with me is aware of I’m no longer a political individual. The comments are no longer politically motivated. I contain a friendship and loyalty to Donald,” he acknowledged.
At the time, Belichick additionally grand the physique of workers had dilapidated Massachusetts Senator and Secretary of Narrate John Kerry in its locker room a pair of weeks prior.
“That’s one other good friend of mine. I can’t imagine two folks with more diversified political opinions than those two, nevertheless to me friendship and loyalty is on the field of that. Or no longer it’s no longer about political or non secular views,” Belichick acknowledged that day.
“I write a total bunch of letters and notes every month; doesn’t imply I trust each single thing that each individual thinks about politics, faith or diversified topics. I contain a pair of friendships that are major to me. That’s what that became once about.”
Belichick has served on the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Diet since 2018.
Politico first reported Trump’s plans to award Belichick the Medal of Freedom.
