‘Deep Into Coach’s Mind’: Belichick Expands Media Presence With Underdog Fantasy
Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 03:25PM By Barry Janoff
July 31, 2024: Bill Belichick, whose relationship with the media while head coach for the New England Patriots was for the most part lukewarm, has now heatedly embraced being part of the media.
Belichick, who guided the Patriots to six NFL Super Bowl titles and nine Super Bowl appearances overall between 2000-23, has signed a deal to host and co-produce a football-centric show, Coach, on the Underdog Fantasy sports gaming and media network.
Coach is scheduled to debut prior to the start of the 2024 NFL season and will air on Underdog's YouTube channel.
According to Underdog, “The show will be the first and only original program created and hosted by coach Belichick, taking fans deep into Belichick's coaching mind, and will feature Belichick breaking down NFL film and analyzing game situations for fans.”
“This show is going to give fans a comprehensive look at the behind-the-scenes of the National Football League,” Belichick said via Underdog. “What it's like to coach, how to prepare, how to team build, exactly the way I would do it if I was coaching a team.
“I partnered with Underdog because it’s a sports company run by sports people, and they want sports to connect to the fans, and that's what I want to do.”
The Underdog media network also includes Sheed and Tyler, hosted by former NBA star Rasheed Wallace; and Scheme with Colt McCoy and Jay Gruden.
The network, founded in 2020, said it “recently surpassed one million total YouTube subscribers and is on pace for 750 million YouTube views in 2024.”
Photo: UnderdogAs for embracing the media, Belichick this season also will make weekly appearances on the The Pat McAfee Show, be part of the Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli ManningCast (both on ESPN). and be an analyst on Inside the NFL on The CW Network.
“It's going to be a serious show for serious fans with the greatest mind in the history of the sport,” Liz Marro, Underdog Fantasy CMO, said via the company.
“We've been building out our media network . . . and this is going to take us to another level.”
According to Marro, “We are talking about the greatest coach in the history of football, maybe any sport, he could have gone anywhere. And he chose to come here to build his signature show because he sees what other smart people see: we are doing something different and better than others. We are just getting started.”
“We want to find a connection where we are giving the fans what they've asked me for — perspective on decision-making that goes on within an organization and a breakdown of schematics and personnel within the game,” said Belichick.
“Underdog wants to do that, so it’s a great marriage and a great fit.”
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