Bill Belichick stands among the greatest coaches in sports history, and has left an indelible mark on football as arguably the best to ever man the sidelines.
"The Hoodie" is looking to win his record sixth Super Bowl as a head coach - and his eighth overall - when his New England Patriots square off against the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday.
After all these years, it's hard to imagine a world where Belichick never enjoyed unparalleled success with the Patriots, but with a few bad breaks along the way, things would have been different.
Here are three scenarios that would have altered the course of Belichick's career.
Bills make 47-yard FG to defeat Giants in Super Bowl XXV
Belichick rose through the ranks with the New York Giants, joining the franchise in 1979 as a special teams coach and defensive assistant before eventually taking over as defensive coordinator in 1985. Working in tandem with head coach Bill Parcells, Belichick began to show his prowess as a tactician, leading a Giants defense featuring Lawrence Taylor to victory in Super Bowl XXI against the Denver Broncos.
By 1990, Belichick was one of the most highly sought-after assistants in the game, and his final act with the Giants was his most memorable. Belichick employed an unorthodox strategy against the heavily favored Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV, instructing his players to let Thurman Thomas rush for over 100 yards while using five and six defensive backs to limit the Bills' passing game. The scheme paid off, but it also took a measure of good fortune for the Giants to emerge victorious, as Bills kicker Scott Norwood famously missed the potential game-winning field-goal attempt from 47 yards out - a moment canonized as "Wide Right."
Belichick was hired as head coach of the Cleveland Browns the following season, in large part due to his work against Buffalo. It's possible he would've remained with the Giants or become a head coach later in his career if Norwood had connected. Instead, Belichick moved to Ohio and his defensive game plan from Super Bowl XXV now resides in the Hall of Fame.
Art Modell keeps his word, retains Belichick after moving to Baltimore
Bill Belichick, head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. Sounds weird, right? It almost became a reality in 1996.
Former Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell infamously moved his franchise to Baltimore that year and promised that Belichick - who'd coached the team for five years - would keep his job.
Modell didn't stick to his word, however, believing he could find an upgrade.
"We've had some success with Bill, including an 11-5 playoff team in 1994. However, I believe to get to the next level, a change at head coach is necessary," Modell wrote in a statement upon firing Belichick in February 1996.
Belichick moved on quickly, teaming up with Parcells once again by joining the Patriots as an assistant head coach and defensive backs coach for one season in 1996. Who knows how the course of history would have gone for each franchise had Modell kept his word in Baltimore.
Belichick doesn't ditch Jets for Patriots
It doesn't seem likely that New York Jets fans will ever forgive Belichick - and few could blame them.
Belichick worked under Parcells again when the latter became head coach of the Jets in 1997, and was universally viewed as the successor to the throne. So, when Parcells stepped down after the 1999 season, it was expected to be a smooth transition. Instead, chaos ensued.
Parcells had arranged with management for Belichick to take over as head coach, but his protege stayed in the position for just one day. Belichick's introductory press conference - which has seemingly been scrubbed from the internet - turned into the shock of a lifetime for the assembled media.
Prior to taking the podium, Belichick infamously scribbled "I resign as HC of the NYJ" on a single piece of paper, and then explained his decision to a befuddled press corps. Shortly thereafter, he was hired as head coach of the Patriots, who ultimately gave New York a first-round pick as compensation.
Imagine the Jets - not the Patriots - as this millennium's football dynasty. It's a scenario that could've happened if Belichick had stuck around. However, with his sixth Super Bowl as a head coach in reach, it's hard to argue with the decision.
