Charles Barkley is mad about the possibility of something that will likely never happen.
Appearing on The Bill Simmons Podcast, the NBA analyst told the noted New England Patriots fan that they “got to stop treating my guy [Bill] Belichick bad.” The outspoken TNT personality ripped into rumors about the legendary head coach’s job security that surfaced earlier this summer.
“I love Belichick. I consider him a good friend,” Barkley said (h/t NESN). “I’m so disgusted with some of these punk (expletive) guys on television talking about Bill being on the hot seat and things like that. It shouldn’t even be close to the hot seat.”
“I’m so sick of some of these punk ass guys on television, talking about Bill being on the hot seat …” – Charles Barkley on Bill Belichick pic.twitter.com/RCYJPqJY4s
— Will D. (@WAD1980) August 25, 2023
Few NFL fans could fathom Belichick being in any danger of getting axed. However, some rumors surfaced ahead of his 24th season with the Pats.
Tom Curran of NBC Sports claimed Belichick — also the team’s general manager — has been on the hot seat since 2019. He pointed to a lack of plans to replace Tom Brady and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.
Per Curran, Patriots owner Robert Kraft is “anxious” over the team going 25-25 in three seasons without Brady.
Belichick, 71, is easily the NFL’s longest-tenured head coach. The three-time Coach of the Year has won six Super Bowls and is 30 wins behind Don Shula (18 if including the playoffs) atop the league’s all-time leaderboard.
It’s difficult to imagine the Patriots ever firing Belichick. At most, perhaps they’d delicately nudge him closer to retirement after another lackluster season or two.
After going 8-9, Belichick brought back Bill O’Brien to steer an offense that ranked 26th in 2022. The Patriots will open the season by hosting the Philadelphia Eagles next Sunday.