The Atlanta Falcons were the only NFL team that brought Bill Belichick in for a meeting this offseason. That being said, their interest in his services may have been greatly exaggerated.
In an extensive piece from ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr., Seth Wickersham and Jeremy Fowler, it revealed that Belichick wasn’t even a top-three candidate for the Atlanta job.
Obviously, Raheem Morris was at the top of Atlanta’s wish list. That’s why he ended up getting the gig.
According to ESPN, former Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik were also in the running to become the next head coach of the Falcons.
On the morning of Jan. 25, Blank and executives interviewed a final candidate, Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik. The meeting went 90 minutes longer than scheduled. They liked him but were worried about losing out on Morris, who was due to interview with the Seahawks. After Slowik left, Blank and the Falcons execs compared notes. Morris was the unanimous first choice. The team then discussed alternatives if it couldn’t hire Morris. In that straw poll, Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, eventually hired by the Seahawks, was the second choice. Slowik finished third.
To be fair, this report from ESPN states that Patriots owner Robert Kraft “warned” the Falcons about Belichick. That had to play a factor in the team’s coaching search.
Belichick will have to watch the upcoming NFL season from a distance. As of now, he’s expected to make a comeback attempt in 2025.