Bill Belichick adds Bret Bielema to his staff as a consultant
Bielema has been working with the Patriots since the NFL Combine.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick has added a familiar name to his coaching staff: Bret Bielema.
Bielema, 48, the former Arkansas and Wisconsin head coach, is listed in the team’s 2018 media guide as a consultant to the head coach.
Bielema has been working with the Patriots since the NFL Combine earlier this year and has spent significant time with Belichick this offseason, including at Alabama’s pro day in March.
Bielema was fired in November after five seasons leading the Razorbacks. He went 29-34 in that stretch, including a 11-29 Southeastern Conference record. He was at Wisconsin from 2006-12 and was named Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2006. He guided the Badgers to a 68-24 record (37-19 Big 10), three conference championships and three Rose Bowl berths (all resulting in losses.)
While Bielema was at Wisconsin, he coached running back James White for three seasons before he was selected by the Patriots in the fourth round (130th overall) in the 2014 NFL draft. While at Arkansas, Bielema coached defensive ends Trey Flowers and Deatrich Wise Jr., both of whom were also Patriots’ fourth-round draft picks. Flowers was selected 101st overall in 2015 and Wise 131st in 2017.
