In winning his fourth Super Bowl as a head coach, Bill Belichick became only the second man in NFL history to reach such a milestone. Yet in comparing the two legendary coaches as team builders, former Steelers coach Chuck Noll (who won four Super Bowls from 1975-1980) was a vastly different architect than Belichick, operating in an NFL era that would be unrecognizable to fans in 2015. In fact, explaining the difference in the eras also helps to illuminate the source of massive shifts that New England’s roster experienced in the wake of a another championship.

In a single offseason, Belichick and the Patriots watched the potent cornerback duo of Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner leave town, along with defensive tackle Vince Wilfork (among several other notable exits). The tectonic shift of cornerback talent was especially profound, given that Revis, a main fixture in New England’s defense during the Super Bowl run, went back to the Patriots’ rival, the New York Jets (where he began his NFL career).

It wasn’t talent or a personal difference that led to Revis’ departure.

It was simply the inexorable squeeze of the NFL salary cap. Lost in the offseason sea of Deflategate coverage was one of the most striking examples of the NFL’s parity-inducing model at work. Soon enough, its consequences will become self evident to even the most casual fan. And like always, Belichick will try to fight against its natural tide.

A difference in eras

When Noll’s Steelers emerged from the team’s fourth Super Bowl victory in 1980, the roster remained largely the same heading into the following season. In fact of the big names on the team’s vaunted “Steel Curtain” defense, all of them were back to mount a challenge for a fifth Super Bowl in the Noll era in the ensuing year.

Clearly, the continuity of the classic Steelers teams differs greatly from the modern Patriots. This is explained by two obvious factors: free agency and the salary cap.

Noll’s Steelers didn’t have to deal with either of those things. Star players were blocked from moving teams in a backward set of league rules. It was only in the early 1990s that modern rules allowing free agency were adopted. Simultaneous to that, the NFL also implemented a “hard” salary cap, ensuring that an arms race of spending didn’t occur when marquee players became available.

The Patriots, on the other hand, have felt the full brunt of the NFL’s modern model. And yet, despite enduring countless salary cap challenges, Belichick’s machine has endured.

Belichick was born for the salary cap era

Revis’ exit from the Patriots was a quintessential example of the NFL’s parity-driven system, described in general terms in this way:

• Team X is a winner, but is confined by the restrictive salary cap
• Blessed with a rich amount of talent, the only problem is in retaining star players who crave bigger contracts
• At some point, the team is forced to choose between its stars and must let one (or more) leave

The system forces change. It also forces a leveling of the playing field. In Revis, both points were highlighted, since he not only left the Patriots but rejoined the team’s division rival (who is attempting to catch up to New England).

Clearly, the classic Steelers had to cope with none of this in the Noll era. (Can you imagine if “Mean” Joe Greene had been able to Pittsburgh for Cincinnati when his deal was up?) Meanwhile, Belichick has managed to turn this modern twist into a strength.

Revis, though a particularly notable free agent loss, is far from the first major player that Belichick been forced to dispose of. The roster turnover in Belichick’s tenure has been almost complete (Tom Brady is the lone holdover).

And instead of fearing the salary cap, Belichick has essentially made it into an asset. He sees the inevitable change on his roster as an opportunity to get ahead (and given the standings in the AFC East over the past decade, it’s hard to disagree).

It’s also tough to disagree with Belichick’s basic philosophy, salary cap or not. After all, Chuck Noll’s Steelers never replenished the talent in Pittsburgh’s dynasty. Though he was able to retain his stars without fear of free agency or cap difficulty, Noll’s reward was to merely preside over the end of his team’s reign. The veterans aged and their production slipped into mediocrity.

Belichick, meanwhile, has managed to replace every non-Brady aspect of his team. Filling the void left by Revis will be another great challenge, but it’s far from new ground.

Featured image via Ben Resnicow