In the NFL, players and coaches are currently allowed to represent their home countries. Among them is Bill Belichick, head coach of the New England Patriots, who is representing his country of origin during this time with the Croatian flag on his chest.

Munich – In Weeks 4 and 5 of the NFL season, players are allowed to present their national flags alongside the US one on their helmets. This time, over 200 players took part in this action – among them, for example, the German Dominik Eberle. But coaches also showed their colours. Like Bill Belichick.

The head coach of the New England Patriots spoke about his origins in a TV programme on Croatian television. In the show “Opstanak”, the longest-serving head coach spoke about his pride in his origins and his family in Croatia. In it, Belichick explained how his grandparents Ivan Bilicic and Marija Barkovic emigrated from Croatia to the US over 100 years ago.

“My grandpa came here on his own and got his citizenship in 1915. My grandmother came to look for him two years later. English was not spoken much in their household. My father understood Croatian and my mother learned it very quickly – but if I’m honest: I didn’t understand much until someone spoke to me in English,” Belichick confessed.

The Head Coach explained that he was only recently able to visit his grandfather’s homeland with his children. He said he was very proud of his heritage and especially rooted for Croatia in the 2018 World Cup.

Belichick, however, got his love of football from his father. Steve (born Stephen Bilicic) was a player for the Detroit Lions and an assistant coach and scout for the US Naval Academy football team.