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Brian Belichick enters his first season as safeties coach for the New England Patriots after three seasons as a coaching assistant.
And veteran cornerback Jonathan Jones, who has seen time at that position, has also seen what the youngest son of head coach Bill Belichick can offer.
“Knowledge,” Jones told reporters Wednesday during his video conference from Gillette Stadium. “You know, he’s grown up around the ball. His whole life has been football, so you get a lot of knowledge from him. He’s learned from being around.”
Brian Belichick originally joined the organization as a scouting assistant in 2016. The Trinity College lacrosse product now takes over the safeties as his older brother, Steve Belichick, transitions to the outside linebackers after four seasons.
“He’s been around football so much his entire life,” added Jones. “He definitely brings that facet to the game and is just another set of eyes on the game.”
Captain Devin McCourty, free-agent signing Adrian Phillips and top draft pick Kyle Dugger are among the names the third Belichick on staff will be working with in training camp.
“Just a little more vocal,” Jones said of the role shift. “It think before, it was kind of more behind the scenes as an assistant. I think now he has an opportunity to take charge and take lead of that group and put his fingerprint on it.”
Jones could also play a part in the group. The former Auburn corner stepped in for 23 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus, between free safety and the box in Super Bowl LIII versus the Los Angeles Rams.