Bill Belichick hails Patriots’ ‘magical run’ in 2014

Bill Belichick has made a habit of posting on Instagram and offered a tribute message to the 2014 Patriots team, which was celebrated before New England’s home opener against the Seattle Seahawks.

“Congratulations to all the players, coaches and support staff on our incredible 2014 team,” the message read. “You did it all at the championship level: the little everyday things that no one else saw, and the big, legendary things, under pressure for the world to see. The playoffs were unforgettable: two 14-point deficits to the Ravens, a total domination by the Colts and a thrilling win in Arizona over the defending Super Bowl champions. I will be forever grateful for the team’s incredible effort and for all the Patriots fans who supported us with such enthusiasm. We all shared a magical journey together.”

That season, of course, ended with the Patriots beating the Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX after Malcolm Butler intercepted then-quarterback Russell Wilson at the goal line. Butler rang the bell atop the Gillette Stadium lighthouse before kickoff.

The AFC Championship Game Belichick is referring to also marked the beginning of the Deflategate scandal. The Colts complained that the footballs used in the AFCCG Championship Game were underinflated. This led to an investigation that lasted over a year and then-quarterback Tom Brady was suspended for four games for his role in the scandal. It was a long and drawn-out process that even made its way to the American judicial system.

Although he was left out of the 2024 coaching cycle after Belichick and the Patriots parted ways earlier this year, the 72-year-old has been keeping busy with a series of media gigs.