Two years and seven months after he and the New England Patriots officially parted ways, and Bill Belichick is still impacting the franchise.
Just ask tight end Hunter Henry.
Henry spent the morning putting his signature on a contract extension that should keep him with the team through 2028. He then practiced in a tuneup for Tuesday’s joint session with the Indianapolis Colts.
When Henry met the media afterward, he was quick to mention how important coming to the Patriots and playing for Belichick from 2021-2023 was to extending his career and improving his production.
Big fan of Belichick
“(Bill and I) had a great relationship. What a blessing it is to play for such a great coach and a guy that just saw football,” said Henry. “I feel like I grew so much as a player under him. I feel like in the middle of my career I had a lull a little bit, and maybe a complacency.
“I was a solid player, and I saw the game in a good way. I feel like he really opened my eyes to a lot of different things and how to see the game.”
Very similar numbers with two teams
Henry, in his final two seasons with the Chargers before coming to New England, had a pair of good ones throwing him the football with Philip Rivers in 2019 and Justin Herbert in 2020.
He caught 68 percent of the balls thrown his way, averaging 57.5 catches for 632.5 yards and 4.5 touchdowns in that stretch.
At New England, he’s dealt with the likes of a toasted Cam Newton, Brian Hoyer, Bailey Zappe, Mac Jones and Jacoby Brissett, along with Drake Maye, trying to get him the football over five seasons and has been amazingly consistent with no drop-off – 51.8 catches on 68.3 percent balls thrown to him, 594.6 yards and 5.2 TDs a year.
Still thankful to Belichick
“The game has slowed down for me a little bit, but it really slowed down for me, just seeing how Bill saw the game, how he tested us and how he was able to just make us better football players,” Henry said. “I have a lot of respect for Bill, and (I’m) just thankful for him bringing me over here, giving me a chance. It’s pretty cool to be sitting here six years later.”
