Bill Belichick's long 24-year tenure as head coach of the New England Patriots is now a thing of the past and some observers have already been speculating about the future of the 71-year-old, who is likely to find himself at the heart of the New England Patriots.
The six-time Super Bowl winner with the Pats certainly has nothing left to prove, but if he still has the sacred fire for football, it won't be long before he finds a new job. In addition, no fewer than eight organizations, including New England, are looking for a new pilot for the next campaign.
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Here are options, some more plausible than others, available to the man who has 49 years of experience in the NFL ranks and has earned 302 wins in 29 years as a head coach.
–Atlanta Falcons
Quebec guard Matthew Bergeron's team released Arthur Smith earlier this week after a disappointing season. A third straight 7-10 record has the team heading in a different direction, especially as Georgia's patience begins to wear thin; The Falcons haven't hit .500 or higher since the 2017 season. Could Belichick revive the team that finished 26th in the league with an average of 18.9 points scored per game in 2023?
– Las Vegas Raiders
The City of Vice is an action-packed location and an ideal location for anyone looking to attract attention. And unlike an organization like the Carolina Panthers, the Las Vegas Raiders haven't gotten off to such a good start, as evidenced by their 8-9 record. However, interim coach Antonio Pierce picked up points after replacing Josh McDaniels in late October and could get a job. On the other hand, there could be significant changes, and not just in the organizational chart. The case of wide receiver Davante Adams, whose name is linked to the New York Jets, is circulating in rumors. Belichick's former great partner in the Pats, retired quarterback Tom Brady, is now a minority owner of the Raiders. Could he have a say in the matter?
–Seattle Seahawks
What if one NFL legend replaced another? On Wednesday, the Seahawks confirmed that 72-year-old Pete Carroll had left his seat to become a consultant. He led Seattle from 2010 to 2023 and won a Super Bowl and a total of 137 victories: the bar will therefore be high for his successor. If the club wants to hire a coach with a similar profile to Carroll, Belichick could be a possible choice. Both men have notably worked as defensive coordinators in the past.
– Another job in the NFL
Even if he simply decides to pursue other duties in the NFL, Belichick will not be short of options. At his age, he has the opportunity to act as an advisor and escape the football field for a while. On the other hand, if he wants to remain on the sidelines and take on coordinator or assistant roles, there are certain options available to him, even if this scenario is described as unlikely by some experts. For example, the New York Giants – a team the famed coach worked for from 1979 to 1990 before leading the Cleveland Browns – confirmed on Wednesday the end of their relationship with defensive manager Wink Martindale. Belichick served in that role on Big Blue for six years. On the other hand, it would be very surprising if, after his time as commander-in-chief, he were to become a “soldier” again within a group of trainers.
– Stay at home
The legendary pilot obviously has the choice to stay at home and finally enjoy his free moments, far away from the journalists who he hardly seems to appreciate. After all, he has been active in the league since he got a job as an assistant with the Baltimore Colts in 1975. With the third-highest lifetime win total in the NFL and the largest number of playoff wins (31), Belichick can say he has accomplished everything in his sport. The last two years in which the Patriots missed postseason play were also difficult: 2023 was the worst year of his career as a head coach in terms of winning average (.235).