INDIANAPOLIS — Bill Belichick was given an unexpected honor on Thursday at the NFL Combine, receiving the Game Ball award from the Fritz Pollard Alliance for his commitment to diversity.
The Fritz Pollard Alliance was founded in 2003 to advocate on behalf of minority coaches. Former chairman John Wooten, who recently retired and was replaced by Harry Carson, said Belichick deserved the award for doing “a very special job of leveling the playing field in diversity and inclusion in the NFL.’’ The Alliance also named Patriots scout Steve Cargile as the AFC Scout of the Year at Thursday’s awards luncheon.