Atlanta Falcons fly reported 'top candidate' Bill Belichick in on private jet

The Atlanta Falcons are ramping up their efforts in pursuing Bill Belichick to become their next head coach.

According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Falcons have Belichick as their top candidate and flew him into Atlanta on one of team owner Arthur Blank’s private planes Thursday night. Belichick, who interviewed for the job Monday, completed a second interview with the team Friday.

Belichick, 71, is a free agent for the first time this century, spending the last 24 seasons as head coach of the New England Patriots. He is the most accomplished head coach of all-time, winning six Super Bowls with the Patriots. He won two additional Super Bowls as defensive coordinator for the New York Giants.

Following the departure of quarterback Tom Brady in 2020, Belichick and the Patriots endured their least amount of success together. In his final four seasons with the Patriots, Belichick went 29-38 with just one playoff appearance. New England holds the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Falcons targeting Bill Belichick, other big names for head coaching vacancy

After firing Arthur Smith, Blank appears ready to make a splash hire, though Belichick isn’t the only big name in play. To this point, Atlanta has interviewed Belichick, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson, Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and Ravens assistant head coach Anthony Weaver.

Blank, however, put no timetable on a decision.

“I also want to be clear on this: There is no timetable,” Blank said. “The only timetable is to do this correctly. We’ll take our time, be thoughtful, do all of the interviews, be respectful, make sure we have a full diverse set of candidates that we’re considering in every way, and give each and every one of them an opportunity to express their vision for our football team, for our franchise, for the roster, where we are and where we expect to go.

“We’ll take as much time as we need to do that and do it correctly.”