Devin McCourty was one of the most important players for the Patriots during that period, standing out primarily for his strong performances on defense. In recent statements on episode 2 Vice TV’s “Brady vs Belichick: The Verdict”, the former safety made it clear the mentality his head coach instilled in them to keep winning.

“How do we get everybody’s mindset in this whole organization to stop thinking, ‘I’m the best in the world,’ and move on? Coach Belichick had some unique ways,” said McCourty. “‘Don’t wear any Super Bowl gear in this building. I don’t care if you’re a player, faculty, I don’t want to see it. That’s done, it’s over with. Wear it when you’re done and retired.”

McCourty’s words are a clear reflection of the mentality and work methodology that Bill Belichick sought to instill within his team at the Patriots. Throughout his career, the head coach managed to win a total of 6 Super Bowls.

Rob Gronkowski reveals his experience alongside Belichick

Rob Gronkowski is part of the select group of players who, alongside Bill Belichick, helped create a dynasty with the New England Patriots. In a recent appearance on Episode 2 of ‘Brady vs. Belichick: The Verdict’ on Vice TV, the tight end revealed the true meaning of the “Patriot Way.”

“One time going into my sophomore season, I told (Patriots broadcaster) Scott Zolak in the production meeting, ‘Hey, it’s gonna take six guys to tackle me this year,’” Gronkowski started. “So Scott Zolak went up to the booth and he said, ‘Gronkowski, he’s gonna be on a different level this year. It’s gonna take six guys to tackle him, maybe the whole, entire roster.’”

“The next day, coach Belichick, right in front of the team, said, ‘We don’t need to be going out there and telling everyone it takes six guys to a whole roster to tackle you. You gotta be more humble. You don’t want to fuel the other team.’ The entire team laughed because I wasn’t being serious to Scott Zolak, and that situation right there, you started understanding the Patriot way, how coach Belichick runs a tight ship.”

Brian Belichick leaves the Patriots

Mike Vrabel’s arrival to the Patriots brought a slew of changes to the coaching staff. The latest news reports the departure of a franchise legend, who will no longer be part of the team starting this season.

“Brian Belichick, who spent the last five seasons as safeties coach, will be moving on from the Patriots in 2025,” reported Mike Reiss of ESPN on X, formerly Twitter. “He initially served as a scouting assistant in 2016 and a coaching assistant from 2017-2019. Devin McCourty, among others, have spoken highly of his coaching acumen.”

The wide receiver hit the open market this offseason, eventually signing for the Las Vegas Raiders as a free agent to help Jimmy Garoppolo. Meanwhile, New England landed former Chiefs wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster.

While he comes from a successful season in Kansas City, many believe the 3-year, $33 million deal he received was too much. Additionally, there are also those who think it was better to keep Meyers. Former Patriots safety Devin McCourty, for instance, is one of them.

Patriots legend Devin McCourty preferredJakobi Meyers over JuJu Smith-Schuster

“I’m not going to lie, I would have liked to see Jakobi back over JuJu,”McCourty said on the Green Light with Chris Longpodcast, via PatriotsWire. “Just my personal feeling. I just think Jakobi is a guy, he’s an undrafted free agent who panned out because of hard work.

“…To me, when you have guys like that, when you look at Jakobi, you can guess that his better years are still in front of him. I just think having that in the locker room for young guys, and I think especially in that [receiver] room over the years—you lose [Julian] Edelman, we haven’t replaced that room with a guy who is New England culture. You just don’t have it.”

Meyers is certainly an example of hard work paying off. Having joined the Patriots as an undrafted rookie in 2019, he eventually made his way to the roster as WR1. However, after a season with no playoffs, it’s understandable the team is taking other things into account.