SUPER BOWL LII
SUPER BOWL LII

Scarnecchia gave up beach lifestyle to return to coaching

Georgia Tech’s Shaquille Mason snapping to New England draft evaluator and former offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia at Tech’s Pro Day. (By D. Orlando Ledbetter/DLedbetter@ajc.com)
Georgia Tech’s Shaquille Mason snapping to New England draft evaluator and former offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia at Tech’s Pro Day. (By D. Orlando Ledbetter/DLedbetter@ajc.com)
By
Feb 1, 2018

New England offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia was having a good time in retirement after the 2013 season.

“I had my own shop in the back of my house,” Scarnecchia said. “I was building furniture. I was playing golf. We had a house in Rhode Island, so I was at the beach all of the time surfing, paddle boarding, body surfing and playing with my grand kids.”

After two years out of the game, Scarnecchia, 69, got a call from Patriots coach Bill Belichick.  He was working a coaching clinic at Pacific University.

“(He) wanted to know if I’d be interested in talking about coming back,” Scarnecchia said. “When he called, at the time, I wasn’t (interested). Then he called about 10 days later and we talked it out.”

About the Author

Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.

Follow D. Orlando Ledbetter on facebookFollow D. Orlando Ledbetter on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) passes during practice at NFL football minicamp in Metairie, La., Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Gerald Herbert/AP)

Credit: AP

The Real QBs of the NFC South: Baker Mayfield, Michael Penix Jr., Bryce Young, Tyler Shough?

Which quarterback in the NFL South will keep his team off the merry-go-round of mediocrity?

Falcons to host most open practices of NFC South teams

The Atlanta Falcons will hold 11 open practices in Flowery Branch this summer — more than any other NFC South team. Fans can attend for free.

James Pearce Jr. seen as Falcons’ top DROY candidate

James Pearce Jr. is seen as the Falcons' top candidate for defensive rookie of the year.

The Latest

New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough (6) passes during practice at NFL football minicamp in Metairie, La., Tuesday, June 10, 2025. (Gerald Herbert/AP)

Credit: AP

The Real QBs of the NFC South: Baker Mayfield, Michael Penix Jr., Bryce Young, Tyler Shough?

Falcons to host most open practices of NFC South teams

Falcons coordinator Jeff Ulbrich skilled in developing players, defenses

Featured

University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue said joining neighboring states to form a new accreditation agency will “keep Georgia’s universities among the best in the nation." (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz/AJC

AJC ON CAMPUS

Georgia joins five Southern states to form new accreditation agency

In this edition of the AJC On Campus, Georgia is joining a movement to shake up the accreditation system that has long been the model for American higher education.

14 injured in separate boat explosions on Lake Lanier, Lake Nottely on July 4th

Flames erupted from two boats, one on Lake Lanier and another on Lake Nottely, during the Fourth of July holiday, officials said.

Atlanta leaders eye trails as part of solution to city’s traffic woes

The 535-mile expansion plan, known as Trails ATL, aims to make the city more walkable, bringing 10-minute access to trails for 95% of city residents by 2052.