Bill Belichick has made his choice at quarterback, entering his second season at North Carolina, after naming Wisconsin transfer Billy Edwards Jr. the starter in offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino's new-look offense this week. Edwards beat out Texas A&M transfer Miles O'Neill over two fall scrimmages, a pivotal decision for a program seeking immediate improvement after a rocky debut season under Belichick. Pairing a veteran passer with one of college football's most accomplished play-callers is a unique development for Belichick, who's seen the highest of highs and the bottom of the barrel at the position during his career.
From Tom Brady and Drew Bledsoe to Vinny Testaverde and several notable backups, Edwards now joins a fascinating list of 18 different starters under Belichick spanning the NFL and collegiate level. Slotting all of his signal callers in tiers, here's a glance at who Belichick has worked with as a head coach with varying levels of success. Time under Belichick: 2001-2019 (New England Patriots)Career passer rating: 97.2 Not only is Brady the best quarterback Belichick has ever coached, but he is also the player who transformed the legendary coach's career and established New England as the NFL's defining dynasty.
Together, they won six Super Bowls, reached nine and produced two decades of unprecedented dominance. Brady's unmatched preparation, late-game command and relentless competitive edge made him the perfect extension of Belichick on the field. Brady mastered every detail, protected the football and punished whatever weakness an opponent revealed.
He was at his best when the stakes were highest, delivering signature postseason drives and turning tight games into championships. Belichick coached other talented passers, but none matched Brady's longevity, leadership, ability to elevate the entire operation or hardware. Their eventual split sparked endless debate, yet the résumé leaves no room for argument: Brady remains the standard against which every quarterback in Belichick's orbit will always be measured.
Time under Belichick: 2000-2001 (Patriots) Bledsoe's No. 2 because no quarterback outside of Brady gave Belichick a better combination of proven production, arm talent and organizational importance. Already a three-time Pro Bowler when Belichick arrived in New England, Bledsoe started all 16 games in 2000 and threw for 3,291 yards despite an undermanned roster that finished 5-11. Bledsoe opened 2001 as the unquestioned franchise quarterback before injury created Brady's opportunity, then returned to help rescue the AFC Championship Game against the Steelers.
Bledsoe's tenure with Belichick was brief, and history understandably belongs to Brady, but his résumé and role in bridging New England from uncertainty to a championship era make him the clear runner-up. A member of the Patriots' Hall of Fame, Bledsoe finished his NFL career with 44,611 yards passing and 251 touchdowns. Time under Belichick: 1993-1995 (Cleveland Browns) Given his production and longevity during Cleveland's most successful stretch under Belichick, Testaverde deserves to be in this class.
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