Why Bill Belichick Once Told Patriots QB To ‘Shut The (Expletive) Up’

Bill O’Brien, former Patriots offensive coordinator and current Boston College head coach, recently joined Julian Edelman on the “Games With Names” podcast, during which they discussed their time together in New England, among other topics.

Edelman asked O’Brien, who held positions in Foxboro from 2007 to 2011 and again in 2023, whether he had any funny Patriots coach stories. O’Brien didn’t disappoint, sharing the details of a hilarious exchange between former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and former New England quarterback Matt Cassel.

According to O’Brien, Belichick often would take off his shoes while meeting with New England’s QBs. And Belichick apparently didn’t wear socks, which posed somewhat of a problem given the small size of the meeting room.

“I remember this one meeting where Matt Cassel was like, ‘What is that smell? Like, what is that smell?’ And nobody says anything. And we’re all like (looking off to the side),” O’Brien recalled. “Matt Cassel — he was the very funny guy who didn’t care about making anyone uncomfortable. He loved it. He loved making you (uncomfortable). And so, he was like, ‘No, no, seriously. What is that smell? Bill, is that your feet?’

“I’ll never forget this. Bill looked at him and goes, ‘Pff. Cassel, just shut the (expletive) up.'”

Cassel spent four seasons in New England, including a 2008 campaign where he filled in admirably for Tom Brady after the Patriots’ franchise signal-caller suffered a torn ACL in Week 1. O’Brien was a positions coach at the time, ultimately rising to OC in 2011.

Much is made of the Patriot Way and the “do your job” mantra that permeated throughout the building during Belichick’s two-plus decades in New England. But it’s clear some fun was had along the way, as well. And not just when the Pats were winning Super Bowl titles.

“It was like my first year there. And I’m like, ‘I cannot believe I’m witnessing this right now,’ ” O’Brien said. “But as time went on, you could believe it.”