Bill Belichick might have to order new business cards. Moving forward, the five-time Super Bowl winning head coach of the New England Patriots will also be able to include a position at the Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition: The White House announced on Friday that Belichick is one of President Donald Trump's 20 appointees to the council and will serve on a two-year term.
According to Axios' Jonathan Swan, the position's main task is to encourage children to take up sports and live a healthier life. Belichick himself had to say the following about his new assignment:
The Council’s mission aligns with my beliefs and several of the Bill Belichick Foundation’s goals and values as they relate to sports, youth athletics and personal health and wellness. The physical fitness of children in our country is an apolitical issue that is extremely important to our future. When I was contacted by Ivanka Trump and asked to participate, I was humbled to be asked and honored to accept, as I would have done for any administration. I know that a lot of great leaders have participated on the Council over the past half century, some who are personal inspirations to me, and I am eager to lend any assistance I can to its ongoing mission.
As the statement shows, Belichick takes a non-partisan approach to him joining the Presidential council – something that follows his public stance on politics: While Belichick is known to be a friend of Trump, hence his appointment, he also has pointed out in the past that he maintains friendships on both sides of the aisle.
Belichick is not the first Patriot to serve on a council: In 2010, former New England linebacker Tedy Bruschi was appointed to the same council under President Obama.