Bill Belichick to receive Presidential Medal of Freedom from Donald Trump

New England Patriots coach and the president have been firm friends for several years

President Donald Trump will present the Presidential Medal of Freedom to football coach Bill Belichick this week amid his turbulent final days in office.

The New England Patriots coach will be presented with the medal, one of the nation's highest civilian honours, on Thursday, a White House official anonymously confirmed to the Associated Press.

Mr Trump and Mr Belichick have been firm friends for several years, with Mr Belichick having even written a letter of support for Mr Trump during the 2016 election.

Mr Belichick said after Mr Trump read the letter at a New Hampshire rally that he was not a political person and that he had “a friendship and loyalty to Donald".

The Presidential Medal of Freedom acknowledges “exceptional contributions to the security or national interests of America, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavours".

Mr Belichick is one of the most successful football coaches in NFL history and owns the most wins among active coaches. The Bill Belichick Foundation also provides scholarship and grant funds to help underprivileged youth participate in sports programmes.

In August, Mr Trump told Hugh Hewitt that if he “ever had a military battle” he would call up the coach to ask for advice and ideas, Politico reported.

Mr Belichick, who does not have military experience, reportedly told radio station WEEI that he was flattered by the offer, but said: “I’ll just stick to coaching football.”

Mr Trump has continued to award the medal to a string of sports figures and political backers before the end of his presidency.

On 4 January, California Rep Devin Nunes, one of Mr Trump’s most vocal political allies, was also awarded the medal.

Following violence in the Capitol last week, Mr Trump awarded the medal to Hall of Fame golfers Annika Sorenstam and Gary Player, along with the late Olympian Babe Didrikson Zaharias.

The awards come as the president makes an effort to pursue a normal schedule following calls for his removal after the chaos in Washington DC, which many say the president encouraged.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi confirmed in a statement on Sunday that Democrats in the House of Representatives will proceed with legislation to impeach Mr Trump for a second time following the riots, which left five people dead.

Reporting by the Associated Press