"Well-placed source" thinks Bill Belichick heads to the Los Angeles Chargers
Hall of Fame voter Gary Myers reported that a "well-placed source" believes that Bill Belichick heads to LA to coach the Chargers in 2024. Hmm, how would we feel about this? I think with each passing week and each Patriots loss, the chances that Belichick returns to the team in 2024 gets lower and lower.
And honestly, I think a fresh start for both sides makes sense. Belichick is now 71 years old and is probably best suited coaching a team that already has a general manager and is ready to win. Belichick most definitely should not be overseeing the coming rebuild for the Patriots. He's seeminly failed to adapt to the modern-day NFL and has not had a great recent tenure as GM.
Would Belichick retire? Well, he seems to be a football-lifer, so I'd find that hard to believe. Anyway, here's the long report from Myers on Twitter (or X, whatever):
One of my well-placed sources believe the Chargers are the favorites for Bill Belichick in 2024: Excellent QB; team ready to win; Belichick likes California and the beach.
— Gary Myers (@GaryMyersNY) November 15, 2023
He shot down my theory of Belichick to the Cowboys even though Bill Parcells, who is now one of Belichick's…
Myers notes that Belichick apparently likes California and the beach, and probably wants to prove that he can win a championship without Tom Brady. Well, the Chargers to have a decent QB in Justin Herbert and some nice pieces along the offensive line. The team could use another player at wide receiver and tight end, so perhaps that'd be a hoop they'd have to jump through.
Myers also notes that HC stops with the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants seem unlikely. There's really a lot here to unpack though in a potential separation from the Patriots. Would Belichick accept a role as a HC with an established GM? Would be he OK with not having the final say on the roster?
Would a new team pay him what he wants? Surely he still would want paid at the top of the head coach market, right? And then you have to consider his age. It's unclear how much longer he wants to coach, and I don't think he'd necessarily want to have to rebuild a team. I guess if that was his only option, he'd do it, but Belichick may rather go to a new team like the Chargers who do have enough pieces to win.
LA has been missing consistent coaching for years; Brandon Staley is certainly not someone who is going to lead that team to the next level, and the team does have nice pieces on defense as well.