New England Patriots legendary head coach Bill Belichick helped deliver six Lombardi Trophies to Foxboro, and his next stop might be in the NFC South. It’s an open secret that Belichick’s two-decade journey with the Patriots is coming to a close at the end of the season. Owner Robert Kraft demanded that the Patriots make the playoffs in 2023, and the team responded with the franchise’s worst season in 30 years. While Belichick will always remain a legend in New England, all good things must come to an end, and a parting of ways would be best for all parties.
Ever since Tom Brady departed for greener pastures, Belichick has been responsible for trying to create a winning formula without the greatest quarterback in the history of the game. So far, it hasn’t worked out. Nobody can blame Belichick for struggling in 2020 – the Patriots went all-in on Brady’s final years, and you can’t lose a player like him without hitting a bump in the road. However, since 2021, New England has set the record for guaranteed money handed out in free agency, selected the heir to Brady’s throne, and the team has not gotten any better. Has time finally caught up with the eight-time Super Bowl champion, or does he simply need a change of scenery?
According to Josina Anderson of CBS Sports, at least two teams in the NFC South are going to try and kick the tires on Bill Belichick. This tweet is an addendum to a previous report illustrating the Chargers potential interest in the future Hall of Fame coach. While the reporter doesn’t call out any specific teams, she does mention that there are multiple doing their due diligence, and we can make a good guess at who they are by using the process of elimination.
I’m told there are teams within the NFC South with potential interest in #Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, per source. I previously discussed potential explorations with the Chargers below. While the future Hall of Famer has made an indelible mark, winning 6 Super Bowls with… https://t.co/YPNLZWiLrN pic.twitter.com/KwAewAyK8T
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) January 4, 2024
REPORT: Multiple NFC South Teams Targeting Bill Belichick
Which Teams Want Belichick?
The NFC South is in a bit of a strange predicament, as there is a case to be made that all four teams could be interviewing Bill Belichick at this point next week. The Carolina Panthers already fired head coach Frank Reich, so it’s safe to assume that they’re one of the teams looking at Belichick. The Saints, Buccaneers, and Falcons, meanwhile, all have questions at the head coaching position. Of the three aforementioned teams, the Buccaneers seem least likely to fire their current head coach. While it hasn’t always been smooth sailing with Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay’s second-half resurgence should be enough to save his job for at least one more season.
The Saints and Falcons, meanwhile, could easily fire their respective coaches. Reports across the league currently indicate that New Orleans is happy with Dennis Allen, but it’s hard to see why. The Saints had plenty of talent and quite literally the easiest schedule in the league, yet Allen was still unable to guide this team to the playoffs. Granted, the team could still make the postseason, but they’d to beat the Falcons in Week 18 and hope the Buccaneers lose to the Panthers.
The Falcons, meanwhile, should’ve fired Arthur Smith at some point during the season. The head coach simply refuses to use his best players, and the results speak for themselves on the field. Atlanta’s offense is a complete disaster, Smith’s scheme is one of the worst in the league, and the Falcons can’t afford to waste another season with this guy. Maybe Bill Belichick isn’t who he once was, but he’s an upgrade on Smith.
If Bill Belichick winds up in the NFC South, it will probably be with the Falcons or Panthers. Quite frankly, that might not be an ideal fit. Both of these teams need to find a franchise quarterback, and Belichick’s inability to develop Mac Jones is a glaring red flag. Atlanta is starting from Square 1, while Carolina needs somebody to try and fix Bryce Young. Chances are, the best option for either team is to look for a young, offensive-minded head coach like Ben Johnson or Frank Smith.
Main Photo: Mark Konezny – USA Today Sports
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