Bill Belichick Offers Statement On Patriots Coach Retirement
Bill Belichick offered a statement on a Patriots coach’s retirement this week.
On Tuesday, New England announced that offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia was retiring for the second time.
Scarnecchia had spent 34 seasons with the franchise over the course of his career. He was the longest tenured coach with one team in the league.
The 71-year-old was showed with praise from all corners following the announcement, but particularly from Belichick and Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
“It was a privilege to coach with Dante for so long,” said Belichick.
“Dante is among the very best assistant coaches ever.”
Bill Belichick statement on Dante Scarnecchia via @patriots: “It was a privilege to coach with Dante for so long. I knew that long before his initial retirement and throughout a second act of continued excellence. Dante is among the very best assistant coaches ever.”
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) January 28, 2020
Together Belichick and Scarnecchia helped lead the Patriots to nine separate Super Bowls, six of which they won.
“Dante Scarnecchia has been unbelievable in every way. As a coach, he was extraordinarily talented at teaching his players and bringing the most out of each of them,” Kraft said.
“Dante put everything he had into helping his players achieve their maximum potential — the mark of a great coach. His contributions to our team and to the game of football are unprecedented over the last four decades.
“Yet even more remarkable is the impact Dante has had on countless players, coaches and staff members who have walked through our doors,” he continued.
“He modeled the principles he believed in through his hard work, diligence and integrity. He held himself accountable. He trained alongside his players. He treated everyone with respect.
“There truly is no way to sum up the incredible career he’s had, the positive impact he’s made on our franchise or how much he will be missed.
“We are forever grateful for Dante and wish him the absolutely best in his next chapter, along with his lovely wife Susan and his family.
“The New England Patriots are better because of Dante Scarnecchia, and he will always have a home with us.”
It will be interesting to see how Belichick and the Patriots ultimately fill the void left behind by Scarnecchia.
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A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
