As the Patriots prepare to do some on-field business with the Commanders this weekend, there is some off-field business the two teams could handle after the season ends.
There’s talk in some league circles that the Commanders could look to essentially trade for Patriots coach Bill Belichick in 2024.
It’s not as crazy as it sounds at first glance. Based on their recent moves of defensive ends Chase Young and Montez Sweat, the Commanders appear to be on the verge of hitting a reset button under new owner Josh Harris. The Patriots could be looking for a graceful exit from Belichick’s long-term tenure.
This would allow the Commanders to get a great coach and the Patriots to get something for him.
A team looking for a head coach can always turn to another team to hire the current coach. The procedure is available to every team. It’s not used as much as it could or should be.
In theory, the commanders would contact the Patriots and ask for permission to talk to Belichick about the Washington job and suggest compensation for him if an agreement is reached. If the Patriots are willing to negotiate and both sides reach an agreement on compensation, the commanders would have the option to negotiate directly with Belichick. If an agreement is reached between the Commanders and Belichick, the Patriots would receive the compensation and Belichick would become the Commanders’ head coach.
Practically speaking, commanders would know that Belichick is interested, and commanders would know what it would take to hire him. Then the commanders would begin the process of talks with the Patriots.
This is not a report that it will happen. But the possibility is being discussed by people in league circles.
Don’t expect anyone to admit it, especially the commanders. Frankly, it is a plan that the owners would pursue after a complete house cleaning from the ground up.
Additionally, given the obligation to comply with the Rooney Rule, commanders cannot afford to let anyone believe that an attack on Belichick is inevitable. Commanders must conduct a normal search before they can sign Belichick from New England.
It would be a convenient way out of a difficult situation for the Patriots. They wouldn’t have to fire Belichick. They would not have to bring about a “mutual farewell.” They wouldn’t owe him any money. And they would actually get back some of the compensation they paid the Jets when they hired him in 2000.
This possibility puts the recent report about Belichick’s new lucrative multi-year contract in a different light. It appeared to be a revelation from Belichick’s camp aimed at disproving the notion that he would be fired during the season. Maybe it was actually a leak from the Patriots to remind any team thinking about hiring Belichick that they have to give the Patriots everything the Patriots want in order to get him.