After 24 years at the helm of the greatest dynasty in the history of the NFL, Bill Belichick is officially on to his next team. Belichick and the New England Patriots mutually decided to part ways on Thursday, but the head coach is not interested in calling it a career. He will be on somebody’s sideline next year, the only question is where it will be.
In a typical year, Bill Belichick would be the top name on the coaching market. However, this is not a typical year. Jim Harbaugh could be coming back to the NFL, Pete Carroll still wants to coach, and there are plenty of young, offensive-minded coaches like Ben Johnson that could interest teams.
The Patriots haven’t been the same since Tom Brady left for Tampa Bay, but Bill Belichick still knows how to coach a defense. Even if the present-day, 72-year-old Belichick lost a step or two, he should still draw plenty of interest across the league. Right now, seven teams are looking for a new head coach (excluding the Patriots), so let’s rank the most likely fit for Bill Belichick’s next team.
Bill Belichick’s Next Team: The Top Fits, Ranked
7. Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans just fired Mike Vrabel, so why would they ever want to hire the guy who basically formed his coaching philosophy? Vrabel never coached under Belichick, but he did play for him, and it’s clear that the two have similar values when it comes to building a team. Even if the Titans were interested, it’s hard to see why Belichick would want to join. Tennessee is staring down a major rebuild, and Belichick will want a team better suited for short-term success.
6. Las Vegas Raiders
Josh McDaniels is a product of Bill Belichick, and the Raiders could be afraid that the apple doesn’t fall far from this coaching tree. It goes without saying that Bill Belichick is a much better head coach than McDaniels, but Belichick’s next team will not be one that just made the mistake of trusting one of his disciples.
5. Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks fired Pete Carroll because they wanted to find a younger voice to lead the team. Bill Belichick is many things, but young is not one of them. While it would be poetic to see Bill Belichick replace Pete Carroll as a head coach for the second time, it’s hard to see this team making him their next head coach.
4. Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are reportedly interested in Bill Belichick, and Belichick has reportedly done his due diligence with the franchise. While Belichick could be the right fit for certain teams (we’ll get to them later), it’s hard to see how he fits with the Panthers. There are plenty of building blocks on defense, but this team needs somebody with a better track record of developing an offense. Bryce Young needs all the help he can get, and since Bill Belichick was unable to build around Mac Jones, the Panthers are probably better off looking for an offensive mind to be their next head coach.
3. Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders have two good receivers in Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson, and they’ve got the second-overall pick. This offense should be solid next year, but they’ll need to do something about the defense. Ron Rivera got next to nothing out of this group, but Bill Belichick might be the right head coach for this team. After all, the 2023 Patriots lost Matthew Judon and Christian Gonzalez early in the season and still managed to be one of the better units in the league. If Drake Maye or Caleb Williams hit the ground running, this team could make the playoffs next year.
2. Los Angeles Chargers
Bill Belichick’s biggest weakness in recent years has been his inability to develop an heir to Tom Brady. If he becomes the Chargers next head coach, then he won’t need to worry about that. Los Angeles already has an elite young quarterback in Justin Herbert, so all Belichick would have to do is stay out of the way and fix the defense. He’s not going to win six Super Bowls with Herbert, but Bill Belichick will be dangerous if the Chargers become his next team.
1. Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are the betting favorites to be Bill Belichick’s next team, and it’s easy to see why. The offensive line is great, the weapons are already there, and the defense has plenty of interesting playmakers. While they still need a quarterback, they have the money to go out and sign someone like Kirk Cousins. Competing in a weak NFC South, this might be Belichick’s best bet to finally catch Don Shula on the all-time wins list.
Main Photo: Eric Canha – USA Today Sports
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