During a time when coaching turnover is seemingly as frequent as ever and reliable quarterback play is more the exception than the rule, the New England Patriots buck the conventional mold. Bill Belichick, hired exactly 15 years ago Tuesday, is the longest-tenured coach in the league. He's revered for his defensive wizardry, but there's much more to the league's all-time leader in playoff wins among head coaches: He's a strategist and also a tutor, on offense, defense and special teams.
Most are aware of what Belichick has accomplished, but I think one trait that is often overlooked but deserves attention is this: His ability to hire smart, capable, reliable people in all facets of the organization. He hired Scott Pioli from Baltimore in 2001 to oversee the personnel department, hired Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennel to serve as his coordinators early on in his Patriots tenure, plus he has developed innumerable coaches and personnel men, including the likes of his current coordinators Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia, plus lead personnel man Nick Caserio.
Specific to the players, as is the case for most teams that reach the Super Bowl, it's hard to narrow the focus to just 10. But below is a list of the maneuvers that have played the biggest part in helping the Patriots reach their sixth Super Bowl in 14 seasons. Here's our look at how the 2014 Patriots were built.
1. Selecting QB Tom Brady 199th overall in the 2000 NFL draft