Bill Belichick refuses to revisit spygate controversy in Patriots’ docuseries: ‘That’s all in the past’

The Patriots were undefeated in the 2007 regular season

More than 15 years after the New England Patriots were caught videotaping the New York Jets’ coaching signals from the sidelines during the 2007 season, former head coach Bill Belichick remains tight-lipped on the matter. 

Belichick’s storied career with the Patriots came to an end after they agreed to mutually part ways in January after 24 seasons and six titles. 

Bill Belichick after defeating the Jets in 2007

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick shook hands with Jets head coach Eric Mangini after New England beat New York, 38-14, at the Meadowlands on Sept. 9, 2007. (Matthew West/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)

But the dynasty that was established under his leadership is in the spotlight once again because of Apple TV’s latest docuseries, which revisits the highs and lows of his tenure in New England. 

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The latest episode documents the 2007 controversy when the Patriots were caught filming the Jets’ signals during a Sept. 9 game. Belichick and the team were later hit with costly fines and the loss of a first-round draft pick.

The fallout from the incident engulfed the franchise for years, but more than 15 years later, Belichick seemingly has no interest in revisiting the controversy. 

Goodell press conference on spygate

Videotapes taken by former New England Patriots video operator Matthew Walsh are shown to the media on May 13, 2008, at the Intercontinental Hotel in New York City. Walsh was there to discuss videotaping practices used by the Patriots in the spygate controversy. (Chris Trotman/Getty Images)

"Yeah, again, that’s all in the past. I’ve made my comments on that. I don’t have anything to add," Belichick said in the episode. 

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Similarly, former Patriots’ football research director Ernie Adams declined to elaborate further. 

"Just so you know, on this whole video thing – the Jets game in 2007 – I’m not going to reopen it," Adams said. 

"Could I tell you stories? Yes. Am I going to? No. It’s going to the grave with me…" 

Owner Robert Kraft spoke more openly about the incident and his feelings toward Belichick at the time. 

Bill Belichick on sidelines during game against the Jets

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick on the sidelines against the New York Jets in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on Sept. 9, 2007. (Damian Strohmeyer/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

"I went right over to Bill and I said ‘Let me ask you something, Bill. How important to us is something like that on a scale of 1-to-100?’ And he said to me, ‘One.’ And I said to him, ‘Then you’re a real schmuck.’"

"Look, I was p----- with Bill. But when you have division from within it can be very destructive and dangerous," Kraft continued. "So, I protected Bill… We tried to protect his reputation." 

The Patriots went on to finish out the season undefeated, but were upset by the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII. 

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Paulina Dedaj is a Sports Reporter for Fox News Digital.

Authored by Paulina Dedaj via FoxNews February 27th 2024