Bill Belichick has long had the reputation of being all business. when it comes to running the New England Patriots. He has always done what is best for the team, even if it means alienating the locker room at times. Belichick has never had a problem cutting or trading a player, including a veteran player. In many ways, he has earned his callous reputation however on Saturday night we saw another side of Belichick. The real Belichick. A coach who genuinely cares about his players.

After rookie cornerback Isaiah Bolden sustained a concussion in the fourth quarter, Belichick consulted with Packers coach Matt LaFleur and the two coaches along with the NFL decided it was best to end the game with 10:29 left to go. It was the right decision. 

When Belichick met with the media after the game was suspended, his sole focus was the well being of Isaiah Bolden.

“I think the situation, in the bigger picture, overrode the game,” Belichick continued: “So, all saying a prayer for Isaiah. . . . Appreciate the way the league handled it. I think that was the right thing to do. Also saying a prayer for some of our players with their close friends and relatives in Hawaii that are going through some stuff out there. That’s really the bigger picture of it here. Kind of regroup and talk about the game later.”

Patriots players certainly appreciated Belichick putting their physical and mental well being first. Patriots Captain and long time team leader Matthew Slater echoed that sentiment. 

“I really appreciate what Coach Belichick did,” Slater said. “He took the initiative on that. Look, this is not the AFC Championship. We’re not playing for records. It’s preseason Game 2. When you have an injury like that, it affects a lot of guys in a lot of different ways. Clearly, our team was shaken by what happened, and I think coach made the right decision.

Slater continued: “I think that was tremendous leadership by him. I have to say honestly, that was one of the proudest moments I’ve had as a guy who’s played for him for now 16 years, to see what he did. There was no hesitation. And I appreciate Coach LaFleur, as well, for standing with him. I think everybody acted swiftly, and it was the right call in this situation.”

After what happened in January with Damar Hamlin collapsing, coaches, players and trainers are hyper focused on player safety, as they should be. It is not just the players physical safety well being that matters, their mental state of mind matters as well.

Belichick has always been on the cutting edge of X’s and O’s and pushing the right buttons when it comes to motivating his players. He also proved on Saturday night that he cares about his players beyond the game. He doesn’t just see them as pawns in a game. He sees them as human beings. 

So the next time Belichick trades or cuts a player, remember this. He is just doing his job. He cares about people a lot more than we give him credit for. We witnessed that first hand on Saturday night.