ESPN reveals elaborate report why Bill Belichick wasn't hired in NFL coaching cycle
Bill Belichick seemed to be a slam dunk this past NFL coaching cycle, but the Atlanta Falcons and others passed on the former New England Patriots coach.
ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr., Seth Wickersham and Jeremy Fowler did a deep dive around the league, particularly with teams who seemingly had interest in Belichick. But, the future Hall of Fame coach was left without a job and the Falcons deal fell apart due to one man, reportedly.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft was the primary reason for the Falcons passing on Belichick, despite two interviews with the franchise.
“But in a conversation with Blank, Kraft delivered a stark assessment of Belichick’s character, according to a source who spoke to two people: a close Kraft friend and a longtime Belichick confidant,” the ESPN report stated. “The source quoted the Belichick source as saying, ‘Robert called Arthur to warn him not to trust Bill.’ That account was backed up, the source said, by the close Kraft friend.
“Multiple sources said that Kraft spoke with ‘some candor’ to Blank about Belichick, though the sources declined to elaborate. One source close to Belichick said Kraft ‘was a big part’ of why the Falcons passed on hiring him.”
The Falcons ended up hiring Raheem Morris as their new head coach.
Belichick is expected to be an analyst for Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions, which produces the Monday Night “ManningCast.” He is reportedly biding his time until next January for openings on teams he’d be interested in.
Those teams, according to ESPN, would be the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants.
An unnamed friend of Belichick told ESPN: “I don’t think Bill Belichick will ever be a head coach again in the National Football League, unless it’s [for] Jerry Jones.”
The most realistic possibility of the past cycle was the Eagles, according to ESPN.
“Owner Jeffrey Lurie and general manger Howie Roseman, both Belichick fans, still strongly believed in their current head coach, Nick Sirianni, who over a stretch went 26-5,” the report read. But Lurie thought it was worth asking a confidant of his about Belichick. A source close to Belichick said the coach would have been interested.
“Roseman told ESPN he had a conversation with Belichick, a check-in to see how the coach was doing after he was out in New England. A source close to Belichick confirmed there was no talk during the call about working for the Eagles.”
Bill Belichick might never coach again
How much more does Belichick have in the tank? It’s a fair question. It’s a large reason why the Eagles ultimately passed on really diving into a job interview.
“There’s also a belief that Belichick will coach only until he gets 15 more wins, enough to pass Don Shula as the winningest coach in NFL history,” the ESPN report read. “Though not seriously considering a move, Lurie wondered to a confidant: Was it worth overhauling the building, changing personnel and philosophies on everything from training staff to salary cap structure, for someone who might coach only two years?”
Aside from his previous Giants connection, the Cowboys and Washington Commanders were potential matches for the former Patriots coach. The sources told ESPN both Dallas and Washington had their appeal: sticking it to Robert Kraft (Cowboys) and being closer to Annapolis (Commanders).
“However, principal owner Josh Harris, who had spoken privately with Kraft about Belichick, told confidants in early December that he respected Belichick but wasn’t going to hire him,” ESPN’s report stated on why Washington passed on the opportunity. “He wanted the same leadership structure he has with the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils: a strong general manager over a head coach.”
Others including the Panthers, which briefly discussed Belichick before the coach signed a two year extension a year ago. The Los Angeles Chargers were always going after Jim Harbaugh, the Raiders opted for Antonio Pierce and the Tennessee Titans didn’t believe in the former New England leader’s ability to build a culture “at this stage.”
As far as the future, there might not be one on the sidelines for the six-time Super Bowl champion.