Bill Belichick and Nick Saban, arguably the most successful head coaches in the NFL and college football respectively, are the subject of an upcoming documentary. HBO Sports and NFL Films announced a partnership for creating and distributing Belichick & Saban: The Art of Coaching.
The 90-minute documentary, profiling the relationship between the two coaching icons will premiere Tuesday, December 10th at 9PM ET/PT, exclusively on HBO. The documentary will also be made available on HBO On Demand, HBO NOW, HBO GO and HBO partners’ streaming platforms.
“Bill Belichick and Nick Saban have become the modern versions of Vince Lombardi and John Wooden – symbols of success not just in sports, but in life,” said Ross Ketover, Chief Executive of NFL Films in the press release. “Their lessons on leadership are an inspiration; not just for those of us who love football, but for anyone who wants to thrive at whatever passion they pursue.”
The football superpowers have long been friends, with a relationship that began in 1982 at the United States Naval Academy where Saban worked as an assistant coach with Bill’s father, Steve Belichick. In 1991, Bill Belichick received his first NFL head coaching position with the Cleveland Browns, and hired Nick Saban as his defensive coordinator.
“Bill Belichick and Nick Saban have earned their rightful place in the pantheon of greatest coaches ever, across all sports, and this film intimately spotlights their woven history from Navy to Cleveland to now,” said Peter Nelson, EVP of HBO Sports. “It will capture for the first-time ever some of the most engaging and personal conversations held every year by the two most towering figures in the game today. We are excited to partner with NFL Films to tell this unique story of friendship and mentorship.”
The documentary will feature one-on-one interviews, candid conversations between the two coaches and behind the scenes access from the last three decades. Belichick keeps his personality buttoned up when in the public eye, which makes documentaries that offer an inside look even more appealing. Last year, shortly before Super Bowl LII, ESPN released a well-received 30 for 30 film depicting the relationship between Belichick and Hall-of-Fame head coach Bill Parcells.
Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here.