By STEVE KING

Is Bill Belichick the greatest head coach in the history of pro football.

A good case — a very, very good case — could certainly be made for that.

But if he’s not, then he’s definitely on the short list of those who are being considered for such.

That short list also includes Don Shula, Tom Landry, Chuck Noll, Bill Walsh, Vince Lombardi and, of course, Paul Brown.

Belichick, who will put his New England Patriots up against the team Brown founded 75 years ago, and the one he coached himself from 1991-95, the visiting Browns, on Sunday.

What is not well-known is that Belichick is a big fan of Brown, who coached the Browns for 17 years, 1946-62, and guided them to the league championship game in each of their first 10 seasons, winning seven titles. That’s a feat that hadn’t ever been done, and hasn’t been done since. And don’t hold your breath, for it will never be done. Of that you can be sure.

Belichick likes the fact that Brown won so much. He found a way to win even things were stacked against the Browns.

Yes, it’s all about winning. It was in Brown’s day, and it’s even more so now.

Belichick also liked Brown’s insistence on always trying to find a better way of doing things. While Belichick is so trend-setting now with all the things he’s brought to the game, just as Brown was way back when. He is called “The Father of Modern Football.”

And, if the truth be told, Belichick likes the fact that, at times, Brown was prickly with the media. And Belichick, of course, has been a bit more than prickly with reporters. Perhaps you are aware of that.

Anyway, it’s an interesting thing to think about as Sunday’s game ebbs ever closer.