Matt Rhule claims he was left 'embarrassed' by Bill Belichick at a coaches clinic, where the NFL legend spoke in length about his experience in the sport.
Former Carolina Panthers head coach Rhule has hailed the 71-year-old's loyalty since he took over at at college team Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Belichick is currently out of work since reaching a mutual agreement to leave the New England Patriots in early January.
He will embark on his first season out of the NFL this century after failing to land a new coaching job ahead of the 2024 regular campaign.
Bill Belichick 'embarrassed' Matt Rhule at a coaching clinic
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The six-time Super Bowl winner now has time to impart his knowledge on others and did so at Nebraska's annual coaching clinic earlier this month.
Rhule says he was humbled by the experience of spending a long period of time with Belichick.
He said: "He is so smart, he’s seen so much, that he can make the complex so simple that it humbles you and embarrasses you.
"I was embarrassed yesterday listening to him, how smart he is, how simple it was.
"He went four and a half hours just with the coaches. Forget the clinic, like, he came in and met with our coaching staff.
"And three and a half hours in, I was like, ‘Coach, would you like a water? Cup of coffee? Would you like to use the restroom?’
"Because I desperately had to use the restroom, you know? And he’s like, ‘I’m fine, Matt.’ I was like, ‘Yes, sir.’ Just sitting there and just talking, right?
"And just his recall from things 15 years ago. And the only reason why we don’t get through more information is because he’s having to slow down to make sure you understand what he’s saying.
"I mean, so you have this man who’s a savant, right? Who’s been a defensive coordinator, he’s been a special teams coordinator.
"He’s coached, you know, he could be an offensive coordinator. He’s been a head coach twice. He’s been a G.M.
"He’s talking about football in a way that just like, I mean, illuminates things, that makes things so simple that you’re like, ‘Oh my goodness.’"
Rhule also opened up on the contact he has received from Belichick since he was sacked by the Panthers in October 2022.
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Matt Rhule has opened up on the time he spent with Bill Belichick
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He added: "It was an unbelievable experience to spend that amount of time with him.
"And I had a chance to coach against him in practice, that affected a lot of what I did when he I was at Carolina and he was in New England.
"But having that time yesterday... maybe if he was coaching right now he wouldn't have been so open with us, like 'I don't want to get this out there'.
"But he did it and he is a great friend and a really loyal man. When I got fired, he and Andy Reid were two of the first people who called me.
Matt Rhule has been offered advice by Bill Belichick
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"I was thinking about taking this job - he called me and was like 'I really think Nebraska is a great place'.
"I got the job, he sent me a bottle of Dom Perignon and said 'Hey, congratulations'.
"I ask him to come and speak at the clinic, he says yes. Just an unbelievably loyal guy.
"But the amount of football we learned yesterday as a staff, for anybody that was listening. Sometimes you get round people like that and try to impress them.
"But he's teaching us. Listen, learn, take what you can and build off it."