Fifty years ago this weekend, the Steelers hired Chuck Noll. Nineteen years ago this weekend, the Patriots hired Bill Belichick.
Both are great coaches. Both were the grateful recipients of good fortune. The previous two sentences are not contradictory.
Before Belichick and Tom Brady became a legends, they were a once-fired head coach with a losing record and a long-shot backup quarterback.
On the morning of Jan. 22, 2002, Belichick's record as an NFL head coach was 52-60. Brady was a sixth-round draft pick forced into the starting lineup by an injury.