Adding Bill Belichick will make Inside the NFL even bigger for The CW

The CW has been rebranding in the last few years with fewer scripted content and more sports. That includes landing a big deal with the NFL that has the long-running Inside the NFL program airing on the CW on Fridays. The weekly show has long been regarded as a great showcase for games, player profiles, and insight from top analysts. 

Beginning on HBO in 1977, the series moved to Showtime in 2008 and then to Paramount+ in 2021. The show will begin its second run on The CW on August 30, a week before the kickoff to the 2024 season. It has the panel of Emmy award-winning Super Bowl champion Ryan Clark, Chad Johnson, and two-time Super Bowl champion Chris Long on board. 

Now, the series is adding a name who carries a lot of weight with football fans: Bill Belichick. The former coach of the New England Patriots will join the show as an analyst in between various appearances such as the Pat McAfee Show. 

In a press release, Dennis Miller, President of The CW Network spoke of Belichick’s status as an icon. 

"Bill Belichick joining INSIDE THE NFL is a true game-changer for this storied franchise and The CW. Not only is he one of the most accomplished coaches in NFL history, but his knowledge and passion for football is truly unmatched. Fans will now get the chance to hear his insights and better understand the nuances of the game from the master himself. We cannot wait for Bill, Ryan, Chad and Chris to deliver a championship-caliber show all season long."

Belichick himself chimed in on how it felt to join the show. 

"I’m thrilled to join my new team at NFL Films and to work on such a historic television franchise. I’ve always appreciated INSIDE THE NFL’s depth of analysis, and I hope to bring the same detailed insight to The CW by talking real football with real pros – Ryan, Chris and Chad – this coming season."

The addition of Belichick is a huge deal as few names in the NFL can offer such amazing insight as he can. 

Why Bill Belichick is a perfect fit for Inside the NFL

He may have detractors on his ego, his tactics and methods, but there is no denying Bill Belichick will go down in history as one of the greatest coaches the NFL has ever seen. 

After time as an assistant coach (including two Super Bowl wins for the New York Giants), Belichick took over as head coach for the New England Patriots in 2000. He then landed the luckiest break imaginable when Tom Brady had to replace the injured Drew Bledsoe as quarterback in 2001.

Together, Belichick and Brady transformed the Patriots from jokes to one of the greatest dynasties in sports history. Over two decades, they went to nine Super Bowls with six of them victories and a perfect regular season in 2007. Belichick holds the record for the most Super Bowl wins (8), most Super Bowl appearances (12), most playoff wins as a head coach (31) and numerous others, including 302 wins as a head coach. 

Things took a turn for Belichick when Brady left to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020. Without him, the Patriots faltered. 2023 was the worst year of Belichick’s career, finishing 4-13. In January 2024, he and the Patriots parted ways with buzz on Belichick landing a new gig, but he hasn’t yet. 

Belichick’s record speaks for itself as someone who knows all about leading teams to amazing victories and working with some of the greatest players ever. He can provide good insight on how coaches think, how to face off against star players, dealing with injuries and certainly knows his way around controversy (re: the Patriots being accused of cheating over the years). 

Again, the coach is notable for his ego and often abrasive manner but does tone it down for TV. His segments are likely to be brief to give some inside info on the games. However, his presence alone will elevate the series as the man’s career proves few know the game as well as he does. 

So with the addition of Belichick, Inside the NFL looks to make a big splash on its new home and be a blast for NFL fans.

Inside the NFL new season premieres Friday, August 30 at 9/8c on The CW.