Bill Belichick to join ESPN's 'ManningCast' as regular guest, according to report
For much of Peyton Manning’s legendary NFL career – first with the Indianapolis Colts, then with the Denver Broncos – Bill Belichick was a foe, the mastermind behind the New England Patriots dynasty that often stood in Manning's path to a Super Bowl.
Now, eight years after Manning’s final game, the two will be colleagues – or, at the very least, share a screen together.
According to a report Wednesday from The Athletic, Belichick will have “an anticipated recurring role” with Manning and his younger brother, Eli, on the brothers’ “ManningCast” show that supplements ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” coverage.
Though Belichick wouldn’t be a weekly guest on the show, which brings in prominent figures from the world of sports and entertainment to discuss the ongoing primetime matchup, he would appear “pretty regularly.” The report added that a deal with Manning’s company, Omaha Productions, is not yet finalized but is “moving in that direction.”
This season will be Belichick’s first away from an NFL sideline since 1974. In January, Belichick and the Patriots “mutually agreed to part ways” after 24 seasons, and despite being linked to several head-coaching vacancies, he was not hired.
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Manning faced off against Belichick’s Patriots 17 times during his NFL career, going 6-11.
Whatever shortcomings Manning had against New England were more than made up for by Eli Manning, whose New York Giants defeated the Patriots twice in the Super Bowl, including a 17-14 victory in 2008 that prevented New England from becoming the first undefeated Super Bowl champion since the 1972 Miami Dolphins.