The Falcons have interviewed more than a dozen candidates for their head coaching vacancy, but there’s a clear frontrunner — Bill Belichick.
Atlanta’s search remains “wide open,” a source told ESPN’s Michael Rothstein, but the timing of that report is interesting to me. Leading up to the weekend, every reputable media pundit believed the Falcons were deadset on Belichick, which obviously didn’t land well.
With fans questioning why the team wasn’t interested in other candidates like Jim Harbaugh, Ben Johnson, and Bobby Slowik, it makes sense that a planted story comes out that the Falcons search is wide open. It could just be a coincidence, but I digress.
However, what is absolutely true, as far as we know, is that the Falcons are the only publicly interested team in Bill Belichick, and it’s perplexing to a couple of insiders.
NBC Sports’ Peter King doesn’t believe it’s a guarantee that he will be coaching in 2024.”I believe we’ve all assumed Belichick was going to get a high-quality job, or at least, in the case of the Falcons, a decent job,” King stated. “Now the question is: Will he get one at all?”
Why are the Atlanta Falcons the only team to officially interview Bill Belichick? Is that a red flag?
“I also think the Falcons must be thinking, If we hold Belichick in high regard, why does no other team? He’s had no other interviews, at least not any we know of,” King wrote. “It’s weird. Maybe teams sniffing around coaches don’t think hiring a soon-to-be 72-year-old guy regardless of resume is such a good idea. We shall see.”
King isn’t alone. ESPN’s Adam Schefter is also shocked that the Falcons are the only team that has an interest in Belichick.
"The Falcons are the only team so far that has engaged in heavy conversations with Bill Belichick..
That's crazy to me but right now that's the reality" ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/JD6miGMHdX
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 22, 2024
Mike Florio doesn’t see it that way, though.
According to the founder of Pro Football Talk, “Multiple teams are quietly considering a potential run at Belichick.” The insider added that one currently has a head coach vacancy while the other does not.
That came after a report that there’s “belief in some league circles” that the Eagles and Cowboys expressed interest in Belichick, but he “didn’t reciprocate” interest, per Florio, who is the only one reporting that the Falcons aren’t the only one interested in Belichick.
As far as I’m concerned, the fit is the problem I have with Belichick coaching in Atlanta. It has nothing to do with what other teams are doing. The quarterback situation is wonky with an owner who expects Belichick to win immediately.
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Photographer: Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire
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