In a shocking turn of events, former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was passed on for the Atlanta Falcons head coaching job in favor of Raheem Morris. According to James Palmer, the Falcons saw that no one else was seriously considering hiring Belichick for their vacant head coaching spots so they went in another direction.
This could mean that Belichick isn't coaching in 2024. Maybe he picks up a job as a defensive coordinator or maybe he takes the year off altogether but it doesn't look as though the six-time Super Bowl champion (as a head coach, that is) will be leading a team in 2024.
It just started to feel that the #falcons, who began to compile work on Belichick a little over half way through the season, saw no one else looking at Belichick and also interviewed other candidates and reset their search.
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) January 25, 2024
What about 2025, though? Who could potentially hire Belichick in 2025 to lead their team if he decides he wants to still be a head coach at that point? Let's look at some potential options.
New York Giants
Where would be a better spot for Belichick than where his legacy first began? Belichick spent six years as the Giants' defensive coordinator in the 80s and early 90s and helped them win a Super Bowl in 1987.
The Giants might not be in the market for a head coach next year since Brian Daboll has looked competent during his two years at the helm but what if the 2024 season goes absolutely off the rails? If the Giants know that Belichick is available, maybe he becomes a priority for them.
Truthfully, Daboll has impressed despite fielding some bad Giants rosters, including making the playoffs during his inaugural year as a head coach in the 2022 season. But, let's say the Giants only win a handful of games. He could be on the hot seat and then the former legendary defensive coordinator comes back with the hope of making the Giants relevant again. Crazier things have happened.
New York Jets
Let's stay in New York (or New Jersey, rather) for this next entry and pivot to the Jets. We all know that Belichick's time in New England almost didn't happen because he was with the Jets. Fortunately, things worked out for the Patriots and not for the Jets over the past two decades.
What's to stop Belichick from joining the Jets now, though? Robert Saleh and his staff didn't get canned this offseason but if the Jets put together another disppointing campaign, which, let's face it, seems likely, it's doubtful Saleh gets another year to right the ship.
The Jets were favorites to make the playoffs this past season due to acquiring Aaron Rodgers but as we know, he was injured four plays in and the Jets stumbled throughout the season. If Rodgers doesn't play well in 2024 and the Jets suffer yet another losing season, Saleh is probably on his way out and Belichick could have a chance to be the Jets head coach after all.
Patriots fans wouldn't want to see this happen but it's absolutely possible.
New Orleans Saints
Belichick came oh so close to joining the worst division in football but the Falcons went in another direction. The Saints remain his best chance at joining the NFC South in 2025 and that could end up happening if New Orleans puts together another disappointing season and fires Dennis Allen next year.
The Saints went 9-8 this past year under Allen but they had one of the easiest schedules in the league and still finished behind the Buccaneers. Allen is getting a third year in the Big Easy but if the Saints don't make the playoffs once again, it feels as though he'll be as good as gone.
Belichick coaching the Saints could mean that New Orleans runs the NFC South for the foreseeable future, just as Belichick ran the AFC East for most of his Patriots tenure. For this to happen though, the Saints actually have to part ways with Dennis Allen, which isn't a guarantee to happen even if the team struggles in 2024.
Dallas Cowboys
Before Belichick had even officially departed New England, people were chomping at the bit to see him join the Cowboys in 2024. In order for that to have happened, the Cowboys needed to fire Mike McCarthy after their disappointing playoff appearance and that didn't end up going down. McCarthy is getting another year in Big D.
If the 'Boys suffer another embarrassing playoff loss next year, however, all bets are off. Then again, we've been saying this about McCarthy since he got to Dallas and Jerry Jones continues to let him stick around.
It might be more difficult to do so next year if Belichick is the hottest head coaching name on the market and the Cowboys are one-and-done in the playoffs once again. Jones might have a tough time keeping McCarthy if a six-time Super Bowl champion and defensive genius is on the market.
Buffalo Bills
Another surprise from the playoff teams was that the Bills opted to keep Sean McDermott despite another early exit from the postseason. The Bills have one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Josh Allen, so why wouldn't Belichick be interested in heading to Buffalo to run a long-time division rival?
The Bills don't need a quarterback so Belichick wouldn't have to worry about failing in that department. His strength is defense, as we know, so if he could make that Bills defense a top-10 unit, that could be enough to finally propel this team to the Super Bowl.
Patriots fans would hate to see Belichick go to Buffalo and play against the Pats twice a year but this could very well happen if the Bills disappoint once again in the postseason next season. It'd be tough to see the Bills giving McDermott yet another chance, especially with Belichick out there waiting in the wings.