A little-known Bill Belichick-era tactic has officially come to an end after the NFL moved to eliminate videoboard deception during games.
The league recently informed teams that it is tightening the rules governing what may appear on stadium screens during field-goal and extra-point attempts. According to a Sept. 7 memo obtained by ESPN, every team must now display the same All-22 view—either a high-sideline or high-end-zone angle—or use a static image for both the kicking team and its opponent.
Teams that fail to follow the revised policy will face discipline, the report said.
The change follows a viral social media post from former analytics coach Ryan Paganetti, who revealed a visual trick the Patriots used during Belichick’s 23-year tenure in New England to potentially unsettle opposing kickers.
Paganetti, who has also worked with the Eagles, Jaguars and Raiders, reviewed 10 years of Patriots game broadcasts before sharing his findings on X earlier this month. By Sunday, the post had generated 17.2 million views.
The eight-time Super Bowl-winning coach reportedly had Gillette Stadium’s scoreboard show a reverse-angle image of the kick, complete with a second, offset set of yellow goalposts, whenever an opposing team attempted a field goal or extra point.
As a result, kickers could see four yellow uprights in front of them instead of the two physical posts positioned on the field.
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Paganetti posted several screenshots showing visiting kickers preparing to kick while the Jumbotron displayed the extra set of yellow uprights. At the time, NFL rules required videoboards to show a static image during kicks, prohibiting flashing graphics, video or moving images.
The NFL told ESPN that Belichick and the Patriots were operating within the rules as they existed at the time.
Paganetti said the tactic caused no apparent problems for New England’s own kickers across the 52 Patriots attempts he reviewed.
“When opposing kickers lined up at Gillette Stadium, the video board displayed a reverse view of the kick, placing a second, offset set of yellow uprights directly behind the real ones,” Paganetti wrote on X. “In windy conditions, even the orange streamers on the video board appeared to point in the opposite direction from those atop the physical uprights, making the illusion even more disorienting. I found dozens of examples.”
“It is the perfect encapsulation of the Patriots dynasty,” he added. “No detail was too small, and no possible edge was left unexplored.”
With the new ruling in place, NFL teams will need to find different ways to gain an advantage from their stadium videoboards.