To do anything for ten years, but to do it exceptionally well, requires a certain mindset that many people simply don’t have. It requires an unwavering commitment to that goal, that mission, that practice, that expertise, that passion. It requires a measure of discipline that a lot of us can’t measure up to. You need to eat, sleep, and breathe whatever that thing is to stretch out a decade of something that speaks for itself, and stands on its own legs. Most importantly, you need a circle around you of people who support what you do, by demonstrating in words and actions they are behind you, and not getting in the way. With this being the 10th anniversary of Boston Week, a week we all have come to eagerly anticipate and celebrate, there isn’t a stage big enough to showcase the gratitude that should be lauded towards the man behind the idea at its very beginning inception – Dorchester’s favorite son – Matt Flynn. Respect and congratulations to the fruits of your labor. One of the things about Boston Week that seemed to hit me more over time was the fact that I don’t get to hang out with my friends as much as I used to. A tale as old as time – We grow up, we grow out, and hit these life markers that simply take center stage as you would expect. One of the greatest things that has ever come from Boston Week is the fact that I get to sit down and read some of the finest entertainment, snarky takes, and  funniest shit I’ll ever read that is written by my own friends every year. Time may take its toll and life may make it hard to have what you did and loved ten years ago still be the center of your life, but Boston Week and reading the stories my friends share every year brings me so much joy and laughs. Kudos to you, Flynn, on a journey well done, well produced, and well executed.

Now, with all this talk of time, and the commitment to kicking ass consistently for as long as you can, this felt like the year of all years to bring into focus the coaching career of the greatest NFL coach of all time, Bill Belichick. As amazing as it is to think of what a decade of success in doing something really looks like, it is truly astounding to unpack the 48 year NFL coaching career of Bill Belichick. To sit down and look at how the world has changed during his time in the NFL is one thing. It is an even more bizarre and mind-blowing fact finding journey to find out some the things that took place in the world more recently than when Bill Belichick got his first NFL coaching job with the Baltimore Colts in the summer of 1975.

Here are the three craziest things that took place AFTER Bill Belichick’s started his first NFL coaching job:

1) Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier III – The Thrilla in Manilla – October 1, 1975

Yes, that Muhammad Ali. Yes, that Smokin Joe Frazier. And yes, that Thrilla in Manilla. On October 1, 1975, Muhammad Ali defeated Joe Frazier via corner stoppage in the 14th round to become boxing’s undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. It would be Ali and Frazier’s third fight, and is often considered to many fight critics and enthusiasts as one of the greatest boxing matches of the 20th century.

Bill Belichick was studying film and game-planning for the Baltimore Colts matchup against the Los Angeles Rams during week 3 of the NFL season. The Baltimore Colts had already kicked off their NFL regular season with a week 1 win on the road over the Chicago Bears and were just fresh of a loss at home at the hands of the Oakland Raiders before Ali and Frazier entered the ring for their third and final match in the Philippines days later. Oh yeah, and Bill Belichick was coaching in the NFL long enough to see the LA Rams go to Saint Louis and back to LA again before he hung it all up.

2) The Founding of Apple Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak – April 1, 1976

Today, Apple is the single most valuable company in existence (give NVIDIA a week). Steve Jobs is revered as one of the most influential people of the 20th century, and that’s probably true because you are reading this on an iPhone. His vision and ideas completely evolved the way we communicate, act, work, and live. There’s a handful of people that made the impact on society today in the same scope that Steve Jobs and Apple did in the nearly 50-year existence of the company. Bill Belichick had one year under his belt with the Baltimore Colts before the words “Apple Computer” was even a thought beyond a few napkin scratch pictures and ideas. Bill Belichick had been coaching in the NFL prior to Steve Jobs founded Apple.

3) Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope Released in 1977

This one is probably the funniest of them all when you think about it. The amount of times that Bill Belichick has been referred to by haters (and fans alike) in some fashion or reference to the face of the “Evil Empire”, the dark side, or side-by-side GIFS and memes of him in famous hoodie all homage in some way, shape or form to the Star Wars movie franchise – it’s actually pretty wild that the actual movie series that takes from all those caricatures and terms wasn’t even the thing until two years AFTER Belichick got his first paycheck form the NFL.

One of the greatest to ever do it – the greatest in my opinion. For Belichick to have been coaching in the NFL for a total of 48 years (TBD if that’s the final number) is truly remarkable. But, it’s even more unbelievable when you get context to what 48 years actually looks like.

Happy Boston Week!