Bill Belichick

Steve Belichick Role Part Of Bill Belichick’s North Carolina Negotiations

December 11th, 2024 at 2:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

Bill Belichick may well be close to make a radical career change. He remains in discussions with the University of North Carolina about succeeding Mack Brown as head coach. This would take the NFL’s second-winningest coach out of the mix for jobs in 2025 and maybe henceforth.

The sides are still negotiating, however, with a few issues lingering. A role for current Washington DC Steve Belichick is among the matters being discussed, according to ESPN.com’s Pete Thamel and Chris Low. Steve Belichick worked with his father for many years in New England. While Brian Belichick stayed on under Jerod Mayo, Steve left to run the Huskies’ defense.

We heard Tuesday that Bill Belichick’s salary and the Tar Heels’ NIL situation were among the other issues holding up a deal. The Tar Heels have made an offer. It would stand to reason Belichick does not view his chances of landing another NFL job as particularly great; otherwise, these North Carolina talks probably would not have progressed to this point. But the all-time coaching great was surprised when little interest emerged beyond the Falcons’ pursuit this offseason. He is close to preempting any NFL talks this time around.

North Carolina is working to close this deal, Thamel and Low report, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter adding the six-time Super Bowl-winning HC met with university officials during a five-hour meeting Sunday. Another development that points to this actually happening: Belichick has been contacting potential staff members for days. While the likes of Josh McDaniels, Matt Patricia and Joe Judge have been mentioned as being ready to follow their former Patriots boss, it is unclear if all would do so for a college job.

Steve Belichick, 37, coached on his father’s Patriots staff from 2012-23. While obviously possessing an advantage due to his father’s status, Steve worked his way up to the role of defensive play-caller late in his New England tenure. Mayo offered him the chance to stay in New England, but the Washington gig became the path. The Huskies ranked 46th in scoring defense this season, improving in that area (from 56th in their national championship game season) despite their first Big Ten season at 6-6.

Considering how much interest North Carolina has shown in what would be a fascinating hire, it would surprise if the school stood in the way of Steve Belichick being a major part of the program. Several former Patriots staffers would likely be en route to Chapel Hill. Now, if Bill is mandating his son be named his successor, that is a different matter. But a deal that would allow Belichick full control — something that would not be available if another NFL HC job became a legitimate possibility — certainly appears close.

This would take him out of NFL consideration, but while Bill Belichick said he would be fine staying in the media, these negotiations do not reflect that statement. At 72, Belichick appears adamant about coaching again in 2025 — to the point he is willing to enter college football at one of the most unstable points in its history.

Bill Belichick Weighing North Carolina Offer

December 10th, 2024 at 10:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

Bill Belichick‘s avenue back to the NFL may close soon. Although it is still believed the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach’s preference is a return to the league, he looks to have a path available that take him away from that pursuit.

The North Carolina talks have reached a place where it is believed an offer is out to Belichick, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Ralph Russo and Brendan Marks report. This is not a done deal, but the sides are negotiating. That said, The Athletic reports the parties are apart on multiple key terms. Belichick interviewed twice with Tar Heels representatives recently; the school is looking to replace Mack Brown, who served as the program’s HC on two occasions.

The ACC school hopes to have Belichick onboard soon, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, who notes the ball should be considered in the coach’s court. This would be Belichick’s first college coaching position. While his father spent decades as a college coach — including a three-year span with the Tar Heels in the mid-1950s — this would be a radical move considering the timing and his stature within the NFL.

Belichick, 72, moving to college now would effectively close the book on his long-held push to break Don Shula‘s career wins record. At 333, Belichick is 14 victories away. The longtime Patriots leader, though, was surprised by the lack of interest that came after his New England ouster this year. The Falcons interviewed him twice, while the Commanders spoke with him in a non-official interview. The other HC-seeking teams steered clear, potentially providing a preview of what could happen in 2025. Rather than risk being shut out again at an advanced age, Belichick has secured a chance to coach again — albeit in college at a rather interesting time for that level.

The transfer portal, conference shifts and an evolving compensation setup have injected chaos into the college game, and Jones adds some believe NIL is a factor in the Belichick talks. Salary is an issue as well. The Tar Heels had Brown on a salary outside the top 40 among Division I-FBS coaches. Brown had been tied to a deal paying roughly $5MM per year. Belichick was believed to be making more than $20MM on average with the Patriots.

Connections to the Cowboys, Giants and Jaguars have surfaced over the past few months, but none of those jobs are available. These North Carolina talks could certainly double as an effort to command attention from those teams, though the negotiations being this far down the road may pass the point of a leverage play. Considering Belichick’s age, however, a North Carolina deal now would probably prevent him from becoming an NFL HC again. No team has hired a head coach beyond age 66; Belichick will turn 73 in April.

This year brought major changes to Belichick, who had been an NFL HC or assistant in every previous season since 1975. He has since held various media roles, including regular spots on ESPN’s Manningcast and the CW’s Inside the NFL. In addition to indicating during a Pat McAfee Show appearance he would use the Tar Heel program as a way to prepare qualified players for their NFL futures, Belichick said he is also open to remaining a media presence. Though, that may not even be Plan B for the legendary leader at this point.

“I’m open to a number of thoughts,” Belichick said (h/t the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed) Sirius XM’s Let’s Go. “I’ve had an interesting year this year working in somewhat of an analytical and media role. Football at either the college or the professional level does interest me and I would explore those opportunities as well and ultimately see what everybody has to offer and what would be the best fit for me and potentially another organization. Or it could be in the media.”

Although it is widely believed higher-ups in the Falcons organization moved Arthur Blank off his initial goal of hiring Belichick this year, the team also passed on a short-term Belichick partnership in hopes Raheem Morris would be around longer. While Belichick is not believed to be seeking the kind of autonomy he had in New England, the age hurdle will come up for however much longer he attempts tot land another NFL gig. Both the 49ers and Rams pursued him for DC roles, but Belichick instead chose the media path while determining his next move.

A North Carolina landing would provide Patriots-like autonomy, albeit on a competitive tier with many moving parts and one without a level playing field. We will soon find out if arguably the greatest coach in NFL history will, largely due to a lack of interest around the league, make one of the most surprising moves in coaching history.

Bill Belichick-UNC Talks Ongoing; HC Has Not Received Interest For NFL Vacancies

December 9th, 2024 at 10:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 2025 NFL head coaching cycle has not begun, but Bill Belichick‘s name remains one to watch prior to the end of the campaign. The six-time Super Bowl winning coach continues to be connected to the vacancy at North Carolina.

Despite the fact Belichick has not held a full-time role in the college ranks during his career, the 72-year-old could find himself leading the Tar Heels in the near future. A second interview between the parties took place last week, and with the NCAA transfer portal opening today it would not come as a surprise if the school made a decision in the near future. Indeed, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports clarity on Belichick’s standing (at least with respect to the UNC opening) should be coming soon.

While the depth of discussions is not certain, ESPN’s Pete Thamel adds they have gone on between North Carolina and Belichick “for an extended period of time.” Recent reports have noted Belichick’s preference would be to return to the NFL ranks on his next job, which could leave his courtship with UNC as a means of establishing leverage from pro teams in need of a new coach. The 2024 hiring cycle was quiet for the longtime Patriots coach, however, with the Falcons being the only team to interview him.

Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer writes Belichick was likely caught off guard by the lack of a market which was in place for him last winter, something which set him up to spend the ongoing season in a number of media roles. A return to the sidelines in some capacity would come as no surprise, but that will depend in no small part on the interest NFL teams show in him this time around. The Jets are, expectedly, not believed to be an option should Belichick take a pro gig; teams like the Jaguars, Cowboys and Giants have been floated as possibilities, but none of them currently have an opening.

The Saints and Bears have made in-season coaching moves, but Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports neither of them have reached out at this point. Notably, he adds no teams have made contact about a potential hire (something which is possible at any time since Belichick is not under contract with another organization). Florio reports that Belichick is “very surprised” by the fact he has not received interest so far.

More HC openings will no doubt be created by Black Monday following the conclusion of the NFL regular season. By the time that happens, the Tar Heels will no doubt have their next coach in place, and Belichick remains a candidate for that posting. Should he fail to receive an offer for the job (or decline to take it), it will be interesting to see if an NFL market is generated.

Bill Belichick Takes Second North Carolina HC Interview; Jets Off Radar

December 8th, 2024 at 12:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

DECEMBER 8: Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) hears that Belichick’s interest in the UNC job is real, and that if he is offered the gig, he will accept it. Russini says that while Belichick is indeed motivated by breaking Shula’s record, that pursuit is not the “be-all, end-all.” She adds that Belichick was “turned off” by the lack of attention he received in this past offseason’s coaching cycle, and that he wants to run a football program without interference (it is unclear whether that contradicts earlier reports suggesting that Belichick is not necessarily seeking full control of football operations at his next stop).

However, there is still plenty of skepticism surrounding Belichick’s willingness to join the college ranks. Former and current Belichick associates tell Mark Maske of the Washington Post that the 72-year-old is focused on a return to the NFL, and that his conversations with UNC are intended to send a message to NFL front offices that he will have options and that there needs to be a sense of urgency about hiring him.

DECEMBER 6: The prospect of Bill Belichick taking an initial plunge into the college ranks in his 70s has generated understandable skepticism in NFL circles, as it has been widely reported the high-profile coaching free agent wants to return to the NFL. If his North Carolina connection is a bluff, however, it is fairly far down the runway.

Belichick met with Tar Heels reps a second time about their newly vacant HC position, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports, indicating this summit took place Thursday in Manhattan. Now holding a few media gigs, Belichick looks to be making it clear he wants to return to coaching next year — and a college debut may actually be in the cards, as farfetched as it sounds.

The six-time Super Bowl-winning HC does not want to be left out of a job during the upcoming cycle, Jones adds. But the Tar Heels’ timeline probably does not align with Belichick’s. The ACC program wants to have a Mack Brown successor in place early next week, Jones adds.

NFL teams who have not yet fired coaches cannot begin interviewing candidates on other staffs until after the wild-card round. Belichick can begin interviewing early, but teams must comply with the Rooney Rule and will naturally be interested in conducting several interviews. That cannot realistically happen until mid-January. If Belichick is a serious candidate for the North Carolina gig, he would need to bypass the 2025 NFL carousel.

Set to turn 73 in April, Belichick is not a guarantee to be on multiple additional NFL carousels. As mentioned several times in this space, no team has hired a coach older than 66 (Bruce Arians). Age undoubtedly factored into the lack of interest in Belichick this year, with the Falcons passing on a short-term partnership with the legendary coach. No other team conducted an official interview. That could well be the reason Belichick is open to the college game, even as the Division I-FBS level has seen massive changes over the past few years.

Belichick passing on this NFL cycle threatens to end his chances of breaking Don Shula‘s long-held career wins record. At 333 wins between the regular season and playoffs, Belichick is 14 shy of Shula. The former Patriots and Browns HC also wants to keep the record down the road, per Jones. Andy Reid‘s Kansas City success could threaten that. Reid, 66, just signed a five-year Chiefs extension and sits on 295 career wins. The prospect of Patrick Mahomes‘ current coach eventually moving into Shula range exists, even as Reid has been tied to seemingly annual retirement reports. His latest extension, one that made him the league’s highest-paid HC, should cool those rumors for a while.

Former Cardinals HC Steve Wilks is also a candidate for the job, according to Jones. Fired after one season as 49ers DC, Wilks has not been a head coach since his 2018 Cardinals one-and-done — a stint that prompted him to join Brian Flores‘ class-action discrimination suit. Wilks also has a recent past in the college ranks, being Missouri’s defensive coordinator in 2021, and an extensive past in North Carolina. The former Panthers interim HC is a North Carolina native who has spent much of his career in Charlotte.

As for Belichick’s NFL prospects, Jones confirms a recent report that indicated some of his former lieutenants — including longtime OC Josh McDaniels — are ready to rejoin him if he lands another NFL job. The Jaguars continue to come up for the free agent coach, with Jones adding Belichick’s smoothest path to having full control over a football operation again would stand to come with a Jacksonville franchise seemingly ready to reboot.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank said Belichick did not ask to run Atlanta’s football ops, and Jones reinforces the notion Belichick — who received steady criticism for his Patriots GM work late in that tenure — is not seeking full control. The Jags would offer Belichick a lower-profile media market and a roster that features an entrenched young quarterback, in 25-year-old Trevor Lawrence. A locked-in QB, albeit one that has been inconsistent, would seemingly appeal to a coach working on a shorter-term timetable due to his age. If Belichick does enter serious negotiations with the Jaguars, it is not expected he would work with GM Trent Baalke, who is on the hot seat.

Regardless of how the coaching landscape shakes out in the NFL early next year, Jones adds Belichick will not consider the Jets. The ex-Jets DC who famously resigned from his HC post in early 2000, leading to a contentious Jets-Patriots trade, is no fan of Woody Johnson and has taken shots at the organization — one responsible for launching the 2007 Spygate investigation.

Belichick-Jags connections have been coming up since September, and it appears this prospect remains on the radar. He has also been tied to the Giants and Cowboys, jobs that are also not yet available. As such, it still seems highly unlikely Belichick would punt on a path back to the NFL by taking a college job so early. Though, until the Tar Heels hire a coach, that avenue is still in play.

Rory Parks contributed to this post.

Bill Belichick Interviewed For North Carolina HC Job; Latest On NFL Interest

December 5th, 2024 at 10:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

This season marked Bill Belichick‘s first out of the NFL since 1974. The legendary HC-turned-media mainstay has only served as a full-time coach in the NFL ranks, moving from assistant positions in Baltimore, Detroit, Denver and New York to his two HC roles (Cleveland, New England). It is widely known the recently fired Patriots leader is eyeing a jump back into the league.

An unusual development may well have taken place in the meantime. Belichick interviewed for the North Carolina head coaching job, according to 247Sports.com’s Grant Hughes. Considering the instability in the college ranks right now, along with Belichick’s exclusive ties to the NFL over a near-five-decade span, it would be borderline shocking if he made his coaching return to that level. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport confirms the North Carolina meeting.

Discussions have occurred over a several-day period, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer and Pat Forde report. Belichick is the son of a longtime college coach. His father, Steve, was an assistant at Navy for 34 years. Steve Belichick also spent three seasons (1953-55) as an assistant at North Carolina. While the NFL lifer bowing out of a second NFL derby to coach the Tar Heels 70 years after his father did would be unexpected, it is a key coaching storyline to monitor right now. Belichick indeed still would likely prefer the pros, per Breer, though he has done extensive research on the current college game.

Belichick, 72, has been tied to the Giants and Cowboys and has connections to Jaguars ownership, further clouding Trent Baalke‘s Jacksonville future. All three jobs may soon be available, and while Belichick has an advantage on candidates employed by teams presently, he would need to wait on those three jobs. The Bears, Jets and Saints are the only teams that can interview Belichick now.

Coaches still on staff elsewhere must wait until after the wild-card round to interview, while unattached candidates can start early. Though, Belichick is almost definitely not returning to the Jets due to a long-adversarial relationship. Unless the Bears and Saints show interest, Belichick will need to wait until the offseason carousel starts.

North Carolina fired its two-time HC Mack Brown recently, and Steelers OC Arthur Smith came up as a target. Smith rebuffed Tar Heels interest, as a potential second chance as an NFL leader awaits. Belichick taking the meeting is certainly interesting, and he would obviously raise the ACC program’s profile. That said, Belichick’s age and the unstable landscape of Division I sports right now stand to generate roadblocks. The Tar Heels have been open to senior-citizen HCs, hiring Brown back at age 67 in 2018. The Tar Heels have produced one 10-win season over the past 27 years.

Belichick’s 20-plus-year tenure as a de facto GM would appeal to schools in the NIL era, in addition to his obvious coaching resume’s draw, though the transfer portal and evolving compensation setup have led high-profile coaches in both football and basketball out. Boston College’s Jeff Hafley was among them, leaving an ACC HC gig for the Packers’ DC post (Brown also expressed frustration with the current state of college sports). The world’s highest-profile football coach stepping in would be rather strange. Indeed, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz adds some in the NFL believe Belichick is using North Carolina in an effort to push teams to act faster and make it known he wants back into the league in 2025.

Any college commitment would also drain time from Belichick’s quest to break Don Shula‘s career wins record. At 333, Belichick sits 14 behind Shula’s mark. The NFL also brings a potential age barrier, one that impacted Belichick’s candidacy this year. No team has hired a head coach older than 66; Belichick will turn 73 in April. The Falcons viewing Belichick as a short-term option prompted them to steer clear, though myriad other factors were also behind Atlanta’s decision.

The Raiders job also may open soon, creating a fascinating what-if about now-part-owner Tom Brady overseeing his former coach. Mark Davis pulling the plug so quickly on longtime Belichick lieutenant Josh McDaniels likely makes that a nonstarter, and ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano indeed does not see a fit there if the Silver and Black boot Antonio Pierce soon.

The Cowboys continue to come up as a potential Belichick destination, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, who adds the Buccaneers have as well. Tampa Bay passed on firing Todd Bowles last year, as the third-year HC ultimately rallied to lead the team to the divisional round. The Bucs are 6-6, putting Bowles on shaky ground once again. Though, they play in the NFL’s worst division and could certainly claim a playoff spot for a fifth straight year. Mike McCarthy is wrapping up a five-year contract, though the prospect of Jerry Jones keeping his embattled HC — one Dak Prescott strongly endorsed this week — has also surfaced.

Belichick was believed to be willing to cede some power if hired by the Falcons, with Arthur Blank confirming the coach did not demand a de facto GM role during his interviews. But meshing with Dallas’ long-running honcho, who obviously plays the lead role in Cowboys personnel moves, continues to loom as a potential dealbreaker for both parties. Barring an unexpected move into the college ranks, Belichick connections to teams figure to pick up again soon.

Bears To Prioritize Leadership Ability In Next HC; GM Ryan Poles Expected To Be Retained

December 1st, 2024 at 10:08pm CST by Rory Parks

The Bears will be in the market for a new head coach this offseason, and per Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, the club believes its vacancy is the most attractive one that will be available. With a promising rookie-contract quarterback in Caleb Williams and a bevy of other offensive talent, over $80MM in projected salary cap space, and a new stadium project in the offing, Chicago is hopeful it will be able to land the candidate of its choice.

According to Jones, the Bears hope to hire a “leader of men” type of head coach. In other words, the candidate’s status as an offensive or defensive savant will not be as much of a priority as that person’s mental toughness and leadership abilities. The successes of Mike Tomlin in Pittsburgh and Dan Campbell in Detroit have underscored the importance of those qualities, and recent HC hirees Raheem Morris, Dan Quinn, Jerod Mayo, and Jim Harbaugh also fit the “leader of men” mold (although those coaches, like almost all coaches, also offer an offensive or defensive background).

Scott Bair of the Marquee Sports Network agrees that leadership skills, along with in-game management prowess, are traits the Bears will be seeking in their next HC. However, Bair does believe that a brilliant offensive mind, or someone that can bring such a mind on board, will also be a prerequisite, which jibes with earlier reports on the matter. He names Mike Vrabel, Ben Johnson, Kliff Kingsbury, Aaron Glenn, and Joe Brady as external HC candidates, while Jones adds Brian Flores and Bill Belichick as possible targets. As reported previously, interim head coach Thomas Brown will also have a chance at the permanent gig.

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (video link) acknowledges that the Bears’ opening will be coveted, and he also believes that Kingsbury will be under consideration. Of course, the team interviewed the former Cardinals’ HC this past offseason for its offensive coordinator post, although it was reported that the summit was really more of an intel-gathering session on Williams, whom Kingsbury coached at USC and whom the Bears were preparing to select with the No. 1 overall pick of this year’s draft. Naturally, the Kingsbury-Williams connection will drive a great deal of Kingsbury-Chicago speculation during the upcoming cycle.

Johnson, meanwhile, will again be one of the hottest candidates on the market, and he is expected to remain very selective about his next destination. On that note, ESPN’s Adam Schefter previously said that Johnson could opt to steer clear of the Bears due to perceived organizational dysfunction, although Schefter may have changed his stance. During his appearance on Sunday NFL Countdown today, Schefter said that Johnson might indeed have some interest in the Chicago job (video link).

Jones and Peter Schrager of FOX Sports (video link) also see Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman as a dark horse candidate for the Bears’ HC post. Freeman, who was actually drafted by the Bears in the fifth round of the 2009 draft, has led the Fighting Irish to an 11-1 record and a likely spot in the College Football Playoff field in his first year at the helm. Freeman was recently named as one of the college coaches expected to receive NFL HC interest in 2025.

Per Jones, it is unclear who will make the final decision on the club’s next HC. Of course, owner George McCaskey will have considerable input, but team president Kevin Warren will be heavily involved as well. One way or another, though, GM Ryan Poles’ job is safe, and he will be a part of the search.

There were some recent rumblings that Poles could be handed his walking papers at season’s end, but prior reports indicated that Poles and Warren are aligned in their vision for the team, and both Jones and Rapoport report that the GM – who was originally hired just two days before the recently-dismissed Matt Eberflus – will be retained. Interestingly, Rapoport says that Poles will “assist” Warren in running the search, which would seem to corroborate the league-wide perception that Warren is the one making the calls.

Jaguars GM Trent Baalke At Risk Of In-Season Dismissal

November 18th, 2024 at 3:14pm CST by Rory Parks

NOVEMBER 18: Sunday’s lopsided loss has, as expected, left Pederson’s job status very much in the air. If a change on the sidelines is to take place, Bill Belichick remains a potential candidate to take over by the start of the 2025 season. On that note, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports a partnership between Belichick and Baalke would be “highly unlikely.” How Khan proceeds over the immediate and medium-term future will certainly be worth watching closely regardless of whether or not a Belichick pursuit takes place.

NOVEMBER 17: Reports from earlier this week indicated that an in-season shakeup of the Jaguars’ power structure may be in store should Jacksonville suffer a blowout loss at the hands of the Lions in Week 11. In addition to head coach Doug Pederson, Jags general manager Trent Baalke could also lose his job if the Jags are outclassed by Detroit, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com confirms.

Owner Shad Khan publicly backed both Pederson and Baalke earlier this year, and he reportedly prefers to wait until the end of the season to pull the trigger on a coaching and/or front office overhaul. However, there is a very good chance that the 2-8 Jaguars, who are being quarterbacked by Mac Jones while Trevor Lawrence nurses a shoulder injury, will indeed lose in lopsided fashion to the 8-1 Lions, and Rapoport says the sense inside the Jaguars’ facility is that some sort of change is inevitable.

When addressing his team during training camp this summer, Khan made a statement that is aging more poorly with each passing day, noting that this year’s iteration of the Jaguars is the best in franchise history. Assuming he truly felt that way – and per Rapoport, rival clubs acknowledge Jacksonville sports a talented roster – then it would seem that Baalke, as the chief architect of that roster, would at least have a chance to remain in his position in 2025.

Indeed, when Pederson’s seat began to heat up in September, it was suggested that Baalke was on firmer footing than the head coach. On the other hand, the team’s fall over the last calendar year – the 2023 Jags won eight of their first 11 games and then lost five of their final six to miss the postseason – could be too dramatic for any of its top power brokers to survive.

Baalke, 60, served as the 49ers’ GM from 2011-2016, and during that time, San Francisco boasted 35 Pro Bowl selections and made a Super Bowl appearance. After head coach Jim Harbaugh departed at the end of the 2014 season, however, the Niners’ fortunes went south. The coaches that Baalke hired to replace Harbaugh, Jim Tomsula and Chip Kelly, were one-and-dones, and the team went a combined 7-25 over the 2015-16 seasons. That led to Baalke’s ouster, and he spent the next several years as a football operations consultant for the NFL.

Baalke became the Jaguars’ director of player personnel in February 2020, was named interim GM upon Dave Caldwell’s firing in November of that year, and had his interim tag removed at the conclusion of the 2020 campaign. Even so, Baalke’s status as GM was believed to be turning off certain coaches during what became a long-running HC search in the 2022 coaching cycle, and the team interviewed longtime Vikings GM Rick Spielman for a non-GM position (but one that would have outranked Baalke). Although the Spielman hire never came to pass, rumblings about Baalke’s standing within the organization were still surfacing at the end of the 2022 season, the first year of the Pederson era.

While it has been reported that the relationship between Pederson and Baalke has become strained, Rapoport says that there is no in-fighting between the personnel department and the coaching staff at the moment. Members of both parties acknowledge that the club’s failure is a collective effort, and there is a “pall” and a “doom” hanging over the building as staffers brace for at least one ax to fall in short order.

Bill Belichick’s “Lieutenants” Ready To Join HC At New Job

November 14th, 2024 at 10:08pm CST by Ben Levine

Bill Belichick is expected to be the most sought-after individual in this upcoming offseason’s head coaching market. While the iconic coach got shut out of the 2024 campaign, there seems to be a general sentiment that he’ll be roaming the sideline in 2025.

In fact, there’s so much confidence in a Belichick return, many of his “lieutenants” are ready to follow. As Jeff Howe of The Athletic writes, some of Belichick’s former assistant coaches are “preparing to join him” at his new destination. Howe adds that Belichick’s impending staff could look very similar to his staffs in New England.

Howe doesn’t provide any specifics, but there are some former Belichick disciples who could be readily available. Josh McDaniels had two long stints in New England during his coaching career, including 13 combined years as the Patriots offensive coordinator. While McDaniels has failed multiple times as a head coach, he’s still shown he can guide an offense without Tom Brady leading the way; the former OC played an instrumental role in Mac Jones‘ Pro Bowl rookie campaign. With McDaniels having been unemployed since getting canned by the Raiders last year, the coach would presumably be more than willing to join Belichick’s next coaching staff.

On the defensive side of the ball, Belichick could just attend a family outing to recruit his top assistant. Steve Belichick served as the team’s co-de facto defensive coordinator (alongside current Patriots HC Jerod Mayo) during the older Belichick’s latter seasons. When his dad parted ways with the Patriots, the younger Belichick left for Washington to serve as the Huskies’ defensive coordinator. Steve’s Washington defense has allowed more than 30 points per game over the last four games, and with the school eyeing a lost season, the younger Belichick probably wouldn’t receive much push back for joining his father.

Of course, before Belichick can start forming his staff, he’ll need to find his next gig. As Howe notes, the future Hall of Famer won’t be receptive to joining a rebuilding squad as he chases Don Shula’s wins record. The former Patriots architect will likely require full control of the roster, so it’s uncertain if win-now squads like the Cowboys (who have a built-in hierarchy led by owner Jerry Jones) would even be a logical suitor. Ultimately, there seems to be confidence that Belichick will eventually settle on a gig, and he appears to have a full coaching staff ready to go.

Latest On Job Security For Giants HC Brian Daboll, GM Joe Schoen

October 30th, 2024 at 7:01pm CST by Ben Levine

Giants owner John Mara recently gave a vote of confidence to his HC/GM tandem. Unsurprisingly, many NFL executives aren’t buying the public support. As Dianna Russini of The Athletic writes, sources around the league aren’t buying the job security of head coach Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen.

Part of the skepticism is based on precedence. Since Tom Coughlin‘s departure, the Giants have employed four head coaches in eight-plus seasons (not including 2017 fill-in Steve Spagnuolo). While Mara intended to be patient with his Buffalo imports, he clearly isn’t immune from reactionary decisions.

Plus, things could get much, much worse for the Giants between now and the end of the season. Russini points to last year’s saga in Tennessee, where head coach Mike Vrabel was deemed safe as late as Thanksgiving. The organization’s decision makers were adamant that Vrabel was a key member of the Titans…before firing him less than two months later. The Giants have already added another L to the loss column since last week’s report, and a continued lack of progression could change Mara’s mind.

More interestingly, sources are also skeptical about the duo’s long-term job security considering the organization’s alternative options…specifically a future Hall of Fame coach who is currently without a HC job. As Russini writes, it’s a “well-known secret around the league” that Mara is a fan of former Patriots coach Bill Belichick, and some NFL sources wonder if the owner could resist if Belichick later shows interest in the New York gig.

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com takes it a step further, with the pundit believing Belichick is using his current media gigs to force his way into possible destinations. Florio points to Belichick’s recent remarks that questioned Schoen’s decision to let Saquon Barkley walk in free agency. If Belichick is interested in the Giants job and wants the “power to which he’s accustomed,” he would need Mara to make “a clean sweep” of the team’s leadership.

Daboll and Schoen could end up guiding the Giants to some kind of success in 2024, which would surely cool their hot seat. However, until Belichick lands a gig elsewhere, the duo won’t have 100-percent job security.

Patriots Notes: Belichick, Barmore, OL Changes, QB, Osborn

October 23rd, 2024 at 6:20pm CST by Ben Levine

When the Patriots parted ways with Bill Belichick following the 2023 campaign, the divorce was described as an “amicable” and “mutual” decision. However, during a recent appearance on The Breakfast Club podcast, owner Robert Kraft made it pretty clear that it was his decision to move on from the iconic head coach.

“I kept him for 24 years,” Kraft said (via Khari Thompson of The Boston Globe). “I didn’t enjoy having to fire him, but I tried to do it – if you look at the press conference and how it happened, tried to do it in a classy way.”

“What he did for us was great. People need to adapt. People need to adapt and if they don’t, things can change. In life, it’s about getting good chemistry and trust and I feel that our record the last three or four years wasn’t what I wanted.”

Belichick generally drew much of the blame for the organization’s post-Tom Brady decline. The team didn’t bottom out right away; in fact, they won 10 games and made the postseason with a rookie Mac Jones during the 2021 campaign. However, following a 4-13 showing in 2023 (the team’s worst showing since 1992), Kraft decided to make Belichick the scapegoat and move on from the franchise stalwart.

With Belichick now hitting the media circuit, the former coach has generally been pretty reserved when discussing his former club. That changed this past week, when Belichick appeared on Jim Gray’s Let’s Go! podcast alongside Brady. The future Hall of Fame coach was especially critical of new head coach Jerod Mayo‘s assertion that his 1-6 squad was “soft,” and Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald wonders if Belichick may be changing his tune following Kraft’s aforementioned quotes.

More notes out of New England…

After Christian Barmore was diagnosed with blood clots in July, the Patriots had been bracing for a potential full-season absence for the starting defensive lineman. Fortunately, there may be some good news on that front, with Mayo telling reporters that the former second-round pick was “progressing” in his recovery (via Kyed). Mayo even admitted that he’s changed his stance on Barmore’s 2024 availability, with the head coach stating that the DT could end up seeing the field at some point this season.
Michael Onwenu started the season as the Patriots right tackle but has seen an uptick in playing time at right guard in recent weeks. Offensive line coach Scott
Peters said he hopes the change is permanent, although the former sixth-round pick’s position will continue to be dependent on his teammates’ availability (per ESPN’s Mike Reiss). The team is bracing for another position change on their OL, as former first-round guard Cole Strange could see snaps at center when he’s activated from PUP (via Kyed). The lineman has missed the entire 2024 season while recovering from a knee injury.
While the Patriots always seemed to hint that Drake Maye would eventually take over for veteran seat warmer Jacoby Brissett, the staff hastily made the change ahead of the team’s Week 6 contest. Brissett told reporters that he wasn’t told of the team’s definitive 2024 plans at the position (via Kyed), although he did seem to hint that he knew he’d eventually hit the bench for his rookie teammate. Brissett tossed a pair of touchdowns in his five starts, while Maye has already found the end zone five times in two starts.
Mayo admitted to reporters that offseason acquisition K.J. Osborn was likely frustrated with his role in New England, per Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal. The former Vikings draft pick led the position in snaps for the first four weeks of the season, but after returning in Week 7 following a two-game absence, the veteran found himself behind all of Kayshon Boutte, Kendrick Bourne, and Ja’Lynn Polk (Osborn had two more snaps than fellow wideout Demario Douglas). In five games this season, Osborn has hauled in seven catches for 57 yards and one touchdown.

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