INDIANAPOLIS -- Long before Bill Belichick was the sweatshirt-wearing coach of the New England Patriots, he was an eager 23-year-old special assistant on the staff of the Baltimore Colts back in 1975.

And even then, he was serious and always tried to pick the brains of the other coaches on staff. That was just the start for Belichick, who has become one of the NFL’s all-time best coaches.

“Bill and I go back, and of course I remember him well on the staff,” Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said. “There were probably less than 10 coaches on staff then, and it’s continued on to now with the rivalry that we’ve had with the Patriots.”

Irsay was 16 years old and still in high school at the time. His responsibility was to be in the equipment room, picking up jock straps and towels and helping the players get ready before they went out to the field. Belichick was a jack of all trades on coach Ted Marchibroda's staff back then. Irsay’s father, Robert Irsay, was the owner of the team.

“Bill clearly contributed that season for the franchise,” Jim Irsay said. “He helped in whatever area Ted needed him. Back then, you brought in a guy like him – a coaching intern – because he was a young guy on staff without a specific position. He contributed to the whole football team. He went along for that ride on the '75 team. It was a really special year. We were a close team and Bill was part of that success."

The Colts finished 10-4 and lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs during Belichick’s lone season on staff. Irsay invited members of the 1975 team to the Colts' facility in Indianapolis about three years ago to give them division championship rings for winning the AFC East that year and to reminisce about the season. Belichick couldn’t make it, but Irsay made sure to send a ring to the coach.

Belichick has won four Super Bowls as coach of the Patriots and is riding a six-game winning streak against the Colts.

“He’s a great, great coach,” Irsay said. “He really knows how to take away your strengths and knows how to maximize talent. He’s someone who has a vision and he succeeds at it. He’s a perfectionist. One thing about him is he coaches his coaches to be great. That’s what make head coaches great.

“He’s one of the great coaches of all time. What’s amazing is he doesn’t get worn down. His mental toughness, his ability to stay in this league and compete year after year and produce outstanding teams, is remarkable.”