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Belichick pays tribute to his late mother

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick gave a heartfelt tribute to his mother, who died Monday, during Thursday’s press conference.
Credit: New England Patriots
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick speaks Thursday at a post-practice press conference.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — “A bond rooted in football, and above all else, family.”

That’s how the New England Patriots described the relationship between head coach Bill Belichick and his mother, Jeanne, who died Monday at the age of 98.

During Thursday’s post-practice press conference, Belichick took the time to pay tribute to his late mother and thanked those who have reached out and expressed their condolences. He said many from the football community, especially Pete Carroll and John Harbaugh, reached out with their sympathies.

“You know, as an only child – I mean, everybody's close with their or has a certain relationship with their mom and dad – but as an only child, I was especially close to my parents,” Belichick said. “My mom and I spent a lot of time together and she was a great woman.”

RELATED: Jeannette Belichick, mother of Patriots' coach, dies at 98

Belichick’s father, Steve, died in 2005 at age 86. Both Ohio natives, the former Jeannette Munn met Steve Belichick in the 1940s at Hiram College, where she taught French and Spanish and he was a football, basketball and track coach. They were married in 1950 and had their son, Bill, in 1952.

Belichick said he learned “pretty much everything” from his parents.

Belichick said, “And then, you know, with her love that she gave to her grandkids, to Amanda, Steve and Brian, was ultra-special to me as well.”

Before continuing to talk business and the upcoming game against Seattle, he said, “So, I appreciate everyone's thoughts and condolences that have been expressed. She had almost 99 years, so a very long and happy life. So, she'll be with my dad now.”

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