When Bill Belichick was let go by the Patriots after the 2023 season, besides being a shocking yet not entirely unexpected move, the assumption was that the longtime head coach would land a new job easily and quickly with another team in the league.
Instead, he appeared to be almost blacklisted and passed over for other, more inexperienced candidates, most notably the Falcons, who were reportedly nearing a deal to hire him for the 2024 season.
Once that fell through, it was clear he wouldn't be on the sidelines for the first time in almost half a century, and the assumption was that he would try again the following year. Instead, he went into college football and took over the University of North Carolina football team, surprising everyone given his NFL expertise.
But apparently, there was a time when Sean Payton, the head coach of the Denver Broncos, seriously considered hiring Belichick and making an unprecedented move out of respect for the future Hall of Famer.
It's almost unbelievable, but according to ESPN's Seth Wickersham, it's true.
Sean Payton was ready to do the most unprecedented thing we've seen in the NFL in decades for Bill Belichick
In a detailed piece about Payton's second chance at head coach in Denver, Wickersham buried a hidden nugget about an apparent plan that the head coach pitched to team owner Greg Penner for Belichick to be on the staff in 2024.
Payton was apparently willing to step down as the head coach, allowing Belichick to take over until he reached 15 wins, which would break the longstanding record by Don Shula for most wins in his career, and then take the reins again after that.
Wickersham claims Payton only considered presenting the idea but "in the end, it was too complicated -- and maybe too fanciful."
This would have been an astonishing sign of respect from one legendary head coach to another, and although it could be deemed a pity move to some, it was also a show of faith from Payton to Belichick after being let go by his longtime team on the brink of making NFL history.
That's the most understandable part of it all because, as we know, most across the league understand just how good Belichick was at his job, and it would have been fitting to see him become the winningest head coach in league history. It's almost a shame that we probably won't ever see him accomplish that.
Payton at least considered this concocted plan, and while it didn't happen, it's still stunning that he even considered following through.
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