It is hard to make an impression, and even harder to make history in a place as old and momentous as New England. The measuring stick is so high.
But Bill Belichick, who departed Thursday as the head coach of the New England Patriots after 24 years of unmatched dominance in America’s most popular sport, will be remembered alongside New England legends like Ted Williams, Bill Russell and Paul Revere.
OK, Paul Revere is a stretch. Only Tom Brady will exist in perpetuity alongside Revere.
Nevertheless, Belichick, whose teams won an NFL record six Super Bowls with Brady as quarterback, is big enough in the Boston area that he could qualify as an honorary Kennedy.