The firing cycle during the early start of the NFL offseason has begun, with six teams now looking for new head coaches for the 2025 season. In recent years, it has become a trend to have a handful or more teams hoping to start fresh with someone new, creating many opportunities for star coordinators to get a jumpstart in their coaching careers.
That's where the Patriots are with their search, and they've included highly touted offensive coordinator Ben Johnson on their docket of interviews. Although it's risky to hire a first-time head coach, guys like Johnson, who has put together an impressive offense in Detroit, are the future of the league and continue the current trend of young offensive-minded coaches dominating in the NFL.
While that might be the direction many teams are taking, not all seem comfortable with that idea and want to bring in a more experienced and proven coach who can presumably turn their franchise around much quicker.
That is reportedly what Tom Brady, a minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders, is interested in after the team decided to fire Antonio Pierce. More interestingly, he is rumored to be hoping to persuade Bill Belichick out of his contract with the University of North Carolina and return to the NFL to lead the Raiders.
Tom Brady wants to replicate the Patriots success in Las Vegas with Bill Belichick
According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero on Wednesday, Belichick is receiving interest from head coach needy teams around the league despite seemingly passing on the idea of even interviewing him prior to him joining UNC.
That may not have included the Raiders, who didn't appear to be on the path to fire Pierce. But now that Brady has a say in the matter, he has been in contact with his former head coach and might try to convince him the Raiders are the real place he should be.
"But Brady has been in touch with Belichick recently as the Raiders weighed the future of head coach Antonio Pierce, who was fired on Tuesday after going 4-13 in his lone season as the full-time head coach. Brady and Belichick won six Super Bowls together with the Patriots, and sources say Brady believes the situation in Las Vegas requires a coach of Belichick's expertise and stature to establish a sustainable winning program."
Read More: Impact of Bill Belichick's arrival is already being felt by UNC players
What makes this entire situation far more intriguing is the language in Belichick's contract with the school. Pelissero revealed that it "includes a $10 million buyout if he leaves prior to June 1, 2025, though it's not entirely clear whether it would apply if he returns to the NFL in the coming weeks."
So technically, the door is still open for him to change his mind despite seeming excited to continue his father's legacy in North Carolina and leave the NFL after feeling disrespected.
However, there might be a chance that Belichick changes his mind if Brady is convincing enough, even if that might ruin Belichick's reputation in college football circles. But on the other hand, his son's future at UNC will inevitably play a role in his ultimate decision, making it seem increasingly unlikely he will leave for the NFL.