The New England Patriots have seen a lot of interesting players over the years with Bill Belichick calling the shots. Not every player who saw the field under his watch had a typical football background. Some transitioned from other sports before making their mark in the NFL.
Over the years, there have been plenty of successful players who started in other sports before turning to football. Having one of the greatest coaches of all time certainly helps those players make the transition. But when asked about the best non-football athlete he coached, Belichick surprised many with his answer. Let’s take a closer look at who he named.
Who Was the Best Non-Football Player That Bill Belichick Coached?
In a sit-down interview with Clemson Tigers coach Dabo Swinney for the College GameDay podcast hosted by Rece Davis, Belichick shared his pick for the best non-football player he ever coached with the Patriots.
“Honestly, my best one was wrestling — it’s Steve Neal,” Belichick said. “Steve Neal lost in the Olympics to [Brock] Lesnar and didn’t play football in junior high, didn’t play football in high school, and didn’t play football in college. Said, ‘Hey, can I try and play football?’ Poor Steve didn’t know where the huddle was… all day tough.”
Dabo Swinney added that every wrestler he’s recruited has gone on to be a great football player, highlighting the crossover between the two sports and mentioning Grady Jarrett as another example.
Neal’s journey is one of the most unique in NFL history. Despite never playing organized football at any level before the pros, Neal played 86 games (81 starts) over 10 years with the Patriots before retiring in March 2011. That’s a remarkable accomplishment for anyone, let alone someone who never played the sport in high school or college.
It’s especially high praise from Belichick, who coached the Patriots for 24 years before stepping down after the 2023 season. He didn’t coach in 2024, instead taking some time off, before accepting the head coaching job with the University of North Carolina football program.
There have been other players who made the jump from other sports to the NFL. One of the most well-known is Chris Hogan, who played lacrosse at Penn State before transferring to Monmouth University to begin his NFL career as a wide receiver. Hogan went on to play nine seasons in the league and won two Super Bowls with the Patriots.
While finding a draft steal is one thing, discovering a player who never played football at all before the NFL is an even greater accomplishment. The odds of a non-football athlete succeeding at the highest level are slim, but Neal’s story proves it’s possible. His success stands as a testament not only to his toughness and work ethic but also to Belichick’s ability to see potential where others might not.
Look at Mo Alie-Cox. No HS or collegiate football. Played basketball at VCU but is now a tight end for Indianapolis Colts!