Steve Belichick wants to be his own man.

Belichick, who took over as the defensive coordinator for the University of Washington — which lost to Michigan in the College Football Playoff championship game — earlier this month, recently appeared on “Green Light With Chris Long,” where he discussed wanting to get out of the shadow of his famed father, Bill, who parted ways with the Patriots following a struggle-filled 2023 season.

On the podcast, Belichick joined the former 11-year NFL standout and two-time Super Bowl champion to discuss, among other things, carving out his own identity and separating himself from his father’s legend.

Long pointed out that Patriots coaches are often like-minded but indicated that there have been some who’ve broken away from the organization’s standard identity, such as Giants head coach Brian Daboll and former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.

He asked Belichick, “What do you keep from New England and what do you leave behind?” as he begins his tenure in Washington after being on the Patriots staff since 2012, most recently as the team’s outside linebackers coach.

“I would say I’m different from those guys,” Belichick offered. “I grew up with my dad. … Being a son, you’re always kind of in the shadow. When he left Cleveland, I was like eight, and so, ever since then, I tried to not be him. I want to be Steve, I don’t want to be Bill.

“People say we sound the same, so that’s one thing I can’t really change.”

Belichick later continued, “I’ll take a couple of things. But I want to be myself. I want to be real with the guys and in the relationships I build, not try to be somebody I’m not.”

The elder Belichick is likely not to be coaching on the sidelines this season, but he may remain involved with the game in some form.

On the same podcast, Steve did say that TV is an option for his dad.

“He’s definitely pursuing some other stuff, whether it’s TV or a regular on ‘Green Light’ or whatever it may be,” Steve said.