Bill Belichick has yet to speak with reporters since the NFL league year opened last month.
But the New England Patriots coach did recently sit down for a lengthy and wide-ranging interview with Suzy Welch of CNBC’s “Power Lunch,” a segment of which was released online Thursday morning.
The interview touched on everything from Belichick’s coaching roots to the Patriots’ Super Bowl LI comeback to Tom Brady’s not-exactly-elite athleticism. It also included a game of word association.
Here’s the full transcript of that exchange, courtesy of ProFootballTalk:
Welch: Football.
Belichick: More sport than business. But it is a business. That I respect the game for the game and the sport.
Welch: The media.
Belichick: It is how a team connects to its fans.
Welch: Winning.
Belichick: The goal. There’s no medals for trying. This isn’t like eighth grade where everybody gets a trophy. We are in a professional sport and it is competitive to win. That’s what we do.
Welch: Deflategate.
Belichick: Ridiculous.
Welch: Aaron Hernandez.
Belichick: Tragedy.
Welch: Heartbreaking.
Belichick: Yes. That would be another word.
Welch: Next year.
Belichick: Is this year.
Welch: Perfect day.
Belichick: Nantucket.
Welch: Last one. Legacy.
Belichick: For another day.
Welch: Don’t think about it?
Belichick: No. Right now, 2017. Trying to have a good team this year. There will be another day to talk about it.
Welch: Just another day at the office for you?
Belichick: No. I mean, look, I’m aware of it, but I can’t sit and think about it. Look, this year is going to be part of it. So, try to have a good year this year and you know, we will figure out the rest of it later.
The full interview is set to air at 1 p.m. ET Thursday on CNBC.
Thumbnail photo via Matthew Emmons/USA TODAY Sports Images
