Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday between the Patriots and Giants offers scores of juicy subplots, from Eli Manning playing in the house big brother Peyton built to whether New England can avenge two straight losses to New York. The Giants handed the Patriots their lone loss in an 18-1 season at Super Bowl XLII four years ago, and won, 24-20, in Foxborough three months ago, the Patriots’ most recent defeat.
But a win on Sunday would give Belichick, the son of a football coach, an individual accomplishment only one other person can claim. Beating the Giants would bring Belichick his fourth Super Bowl title as a head coach, which would match Chuck Noll, who guided the Steelers to four championships in the 1970s.
“It would make me feel pretty good. It’s a great honor to be mentioned in the same conversation with Chuck,’’ Belichick said. “I got to know him my first few years in the league and have a tremendous amount of respect for Chuck and the job he did.’’
Belichick is working toward similar credentials. Ten years ago today - Feb. 3, 2002 - the Patriots beat the St. Louis Rams, 20-17, in Super Bowl XXXVI, launching a stretch that would feature three championships in four years, spark discussions of a dynasty, and push Belichick into the pantheon of his profession.
A fourth title would also raise a question that even Kraft couldn’t have envisioned a decade ago: If Belichick joins Noll as the only coaches with four Super Bowl wins, what is his proper place in history? Would he be considered the greatest coach the NFL has ever seen?
“I already think he’s the best ever,’’ said Tom Brady, who would join Terry Bradshaw (Steelers) and Joe Montana (49ers) as the only starting quarterbacks with four Super Bowl victories if the Patriots win. “He’s a great coach, the only [head] coach I’ve ever known professionally. Obviously, he prepares his teams extremely well.’’
