Though the Falcons have requested to interview more than a handful of prospective head coaches candidates, the one they’ve been most connected to hasn’t officially been requested — Bill Belichick. The architect of the “Patriot Way” and six Super Bowl teams is clearly the Falcons top target.
First, before Arthur Smith was even relieved of his duties, Josina Anderson said that multiple NFC South teams could have interest in Bill Belichick should he become available.
I’m told there are teams within the NFC South with potential interest in #Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, per source. I previously discussed potential explorations with the Chargers below. While the future Hall of Famer has made an indelible mark, winning 6 Super Bowls with… https://t.co/YPNLZWiLrN pic.twitter.com/KwAewAyK8T
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) January 4, 2024
Once the job was officially open, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported that Atlanta did have interest.
Bill Belichick is still the head coach in New England but the Atlanta Falcons are a team to watch if Belichick is available. They are interested, per sources.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 8, 2024
Multiple insiders, including our own Chase Irle, confirmed Russini’s report that the Falcons were seriously interested in Bill Belichick. One NFL executive even went as far as to say they should be considered the favorites to land him.
“Belichick to Dallas is my sleeper,” another exec said, “but I’d make Atlanta the odds-on favorite for Bill, and the Chargers the odds-on favorite for Harbaugh.”
Earler in the week, we also learned that it’s not just a one-sided interest and that the fit makes sense from Belichick’s perspective as well.
“I’ve also been told people close to Belichick believe it would be a good fit for him. It’s a strong roster that, yes, needs to figure out the quarterback position. It’s in a relatively calm market where he could be all about the football. And he’d have a team owner who doesn’t meddle in day-to-day affairs,” ESPN’s Dan Graziano said.
Well, we have even more information now. On Saturday morning, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Belichick and the Falcons are believed to have “mutual interest” in a relationship:
“I was told to focus on talented, yet underachieving teams because that’s really his wheelhouse. So, Atlanta comes to mind, they’re probably a quarterback away. There’s a belief leaguewide that there’s some interest, potentially some mutual interest. The Chargers come to mind in that regard. There’s also not a clear-cut fit right now. There’s several teams in the league that are either looking to go with a younger coach or are just looking for a new outlook. Washington is probably out. Tennessee probably out. Seattle probably out. There aren’t a lot of options right now; could be some surprises depending on what happens in the playoffs if another job opens that’s a little more high profile, Belichick could look into that. One thing is clear though, he does want to continue coaching.”
If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck. The Falcons have been linked to Bill Belichick since even before he and the Patriots parted ways. There’s only going to be more speculation as the offseason progresses, but it seems clear the GOAT is Arthur Blank’s top target.
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Photographer: Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire
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