NFL Rumors: Bill Belichick Will 'Have His Eye on' HC Opportunities During 2024 Season
July 19, 2024
Even though Bill Belichick is keeping busy with multiple media jobs lined up for the 2024 NFL season, he is paying close attention to potential head-coaching opportunities that might come along.
Per ESPN's Dan Graziano, Belichick will "have his eye on potential opportunities as this season goes along."
It's not a surprise that Belichick still wants to coach. He seemed to be a leading candidate for the Atlanta Falcons this offseason and had two interviews with the club before they decided to hire Raheem Morris.
ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr., Seth Wickersham and Jeremy Fowler reported in April that the Philadelphia Eagles at least briefly considered firing Nick Sirianni at the end of last season to pursue Belichick, who "would have been interested" in the job.
The Eagles decided against it in part because there's a "belief" that Belichick only wants to coach long enough to get the 15 wins he needs to surpass Don Shula's mark of 347 for most in NFL history.
Despite not getting a head-coaching job this offseason, Belichick is making sure to stay around the NFL going into the regular season. He will have a regular role on the ManningCast for ESPN's Monday Night Football coverage.
It was announced last week that Belichick will be a panelist on Inside the NFL with Ryan Clark, Chris Long and Chad Johnson for the 2024 season.
Serving as a guest host on The Rich Eisen Show this week (starts at 4:50 mark), NFL Network's Tom Pelissero said Belihick "intends to coach in 2025."
Rich Eisen Show @RichEisenShowIt's always fun when <a href="https://twitter.com/TomPelissero?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TomPelissero</a> sits in with the guys because we get to ask him wild things about the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFL</a> — Tom dips into the Helmet Full of Questions!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DaBears?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DaBears</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RaiseHail?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RaiseHail</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForTheShoe?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ForTheShoe</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Belichick?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Belichick</a> <a href="https://t.co/IvN75qcO2r">pic.twitter.com/IvN75qcO2r</a>
These media jobs can serve as a way for Belichick to audition for teams that could be in the market for a new coach. His resume speaks for itself, but there have been questions raised in the last few years about his ability to build an offensive coaching staff and develop players on that side of the ball.
There's certainly been no decline in Belichick's ability to coach a defense. The Patriots had the ninth-best defense in the NFL by DVOA last season, despite having the most adjusted games lost on that side of the ball due to injuries.
Belichick was the second-oldest coach in the NFL last year at 71 years old, trailing only Pete Carroll (72). The oldest head coach in NFL history was Romeo Crennel, who was 73 years and 199 days old when he had his final game as an interim with the Houston Texans in January 2021.