Norbert Leo Butz’s sinister version of New England Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichick first appeared in American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez as a king surrounded by a loyal court. He’s introduced in the FX series on NFL draft day in 2010, where Belichick’s obsession, knowledge, passion, builds to a mid-round draft pick. Stakes are lower—and risks more acceptable—than the expensive players in the early rounds.
Belichick’s assistants resist when Belichick mentions drafting Hernandez in the fourth round. The Patriots have already drafted a tight end, Rob Gronkowski.
“F— it. I’ll use both of them,” says Belichick, and Butz plays him distant from the other coaches, chuckling as he sees two steps ahead to the forthcoming season. “Two tight ends with a full-back offset strong side. No one’s ever done that before.”
