Bill Belichick reveals surprising obstacle that hampered Patriots’ recruitment efforts.
Belichick is receiving flak for comments made on the Pat McAfee show.
In a forthright interview, former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick did not shy away from discussing a fundamental difficulty he encountered during his tenure: Massachusetts’ state income tax, specifically its influence on attracting top-tier players.
Belichick, who left the Patriots in January after a remarkable 24-year career that featured six Super Bowl victories, discussed the difficulties of negotiating contracts in Foxboro due to the state’s tax laws. During his visit on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Belichick discussed the issues caused by Massachusetts’ 4% surtax on income over $1 million, which will go into effect in 2022.
"That's Taxachusetts" 😂😂😂
Bill Belichick #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/JqOUggUtuq
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 26, 2024
Belichick sarcastically referred to the state as “Taxachusetts,” which made host Pat McAfee and co-anchor AJ Hawk giggle. However, the senior coach’s sense of humor masks a genuine problem. “Virtually every player, even those on the practice squad, gets close to the $1 million mark,” Belichick said, emphasizing how the surtax complicates negotiations with players and their representatives.
The 72-year-old coach compared Massachusetts negatively to jurisdictions with no state income tax, such as Tennessee, Florida, and Nevada, saying, “You get whacked pretty hard on that with the agents. They’ll come and pound you down over the tax they’re paying. We gain no profit from that.”
Belichick is receiving strong backlash for his comment
Not everyone liked Belichick’s comments, and social media reactions ranged from critical to plain contemptuous. The surtax in question was adopted by Massachusetts voters in 2022 and applies to personal income above $1 million, with the 2024 tax year threshold set at $1,053,750. The tax has increased the complexity for any high-income professionals in the state, including athletes and coaches.
While Belichick no longer has to recruit players to Foxborough following his retirement from the Patriots after a terrible 4-13 season, he is still connected to Massachusetts. Belichick, who has shown a desire to continue coaching, still lives in the state and has made recent real estate acquisitions, including a $4.8 million home on Nantucket.
Furthermore, Belichick has been in the public limelight for reasons other than football, with claims of his relationship with 23-year-old Jordan Hudson, a former college cheerleader, gaining traction. The two were sighted together at Tom Brady’s Patriots Hall of Fame induction ceremony in June, reigniting media curiosity in the iconic coach’s personal life.
As Belichick looks for fresh opportunities for the 2024 season, his observations on the specific challenges of managing a team in Massachusetts provide insight into the often-overlooked aspects that drive team-building in professional sports.
