Greg Schiano Is Tougher Than Bill Belichick, Devin McCourty Claims


Greg Schiano has gained a reputation as one of the most rigorous coaches in football, so much so that even one of Bill Belichick’s former players said Schiano is definitely tougher than the Patriots coach.

Devin McCourty has played both for Belichick in New England and at Rutgers University during Schiano’s tenure as coach.

When asked on NESN Live which coach was tougher, McCourty offered a surprising answer.

“Ooh, Greg Schiano,” McCourty said. “Toughest coach I’ve ever played for…. He’s more of a yeller and a screamer. He’ll get right in your face. Bill’s more sarcastic. Both can be pretty brutal, but I’m gonna go with Coach Schiano.”

As NFL.com writer Gregg Rosenthal notes, that could have something to do with the setting. Belichick has a reputation as a coach players love, one who rarely criticizes them publicly and even goes to great lengths at times to protect them from the press.

But McCourty played for Greg Schiano in college, where coaches have greater control of the program and “generally treat players like kids,” Rosenthal writes.

McCourty added that the most volatile person in the locker room was usually Tom Brady, who didn’t have any patience for mistakes.

“Yeah, if we turn on the film and see him throw a ball into the ground or slam a helmet, that means we had a good day,” McCourty said last week. “If (the Patriots offense) has a bad day, Tom’s mad in the locker room. That’s one good thing that I love about being on this team since I’ve gotten here.

“It’s always been that competitive edge where both sides of the ball through the spring and through training camp and until we start playing other teams, it’s offense verses defense and neither side wants to give. It’s really competitive, and that’s how you get better as a team.”

Though he may have a solid reputation for his toughness, Greg Schiano is still trying to find a job in the league. He was fired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after this season.

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