As the New England Patriots (2-9) go through what may be their worst season ever, talk has turned to legendary head coach Bill Belichick’s future.
Belichick has dismissed reports that he has already selected a new team as “ridiculous,” but there have been enough rumblings regarding his possible departure to believe that the rumors are not pure fiction. These three would be Belichick’s top choices to replace him as coach come football season.
3. Los Angeles Chargers
Since Brandon Staley took over the Chargers, every game feels like the same as the week before, and it looks inevitable that the teams will part ways this offseason. Los Angeles is well-positioned to compete right away if Belichick is hired because it has a number of stars on its roster, including Pro Bowl quarterback Justin Herbert. For this reason, some in the industry think Los Angeles may be the 71-year-old’s most likely destination.
There are certain disadvantages to moving to Los Angeles, even though Belichick is said to enjoy the beach and would have his best quarterback since Tom Brady in Herbert. Despite having notable players such as defensive end Joey Bosa and safety Derwin James, the Chargers defense has allowed the fewest yards per game (390.6) of any team this season. The defense would probably perform better if Belichick, a more defensive-minded coach, took over for Staley. However, the defense is in dire need of major improvements, which Los Angeles may not be able to provide.
With their 31st-ranked effective cap space for 2024 (-$43.4 million), the Chargers have almost no room for maneuver without severing ties with some of the highest paid players on the roster. Still, the Chargers could win the Belichick sweepstakes because of their roster’s ability to contend for a postseason spot and the glamour of Hollywood.
2. Washington Commanders
Despite the Commanders’ lack of championship potential, it’s hard to believe that many teams would allow Belichick to make roster decisions in light of his history of poor draft and free agency selections. But according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, Washington will be looking for a new head coach as well as a potential general manager. Bringing in the six-time Super Bowl champion head coach could be the ideal way for new owner Josh Harris to make his mark on the team in his first season.
Washington’s offense, save from its offensive line, is solid, but its defense is a different story. The Commanders lack many key players to build their defense around, and they have given up the highest amount of points per game (29.5) in the NFL this season. The Commanders, in contrast to the Chargers, will have an abundance of cash to meet their demands because they have the fifth-highest cap space for 2024 ($73.1 million), which might be attractive to Belichick.
Not to mention that Belichick grew up in Annapolis, Maryland, which is less than forty minutes away from FedEx Field. This could give Washington an advantage over the other suitors.
1. Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys need to go deep into the postseason in order to call this season a success, even though they have an 8-3 record and average 31.5 points per game, which leads the league. HC After the San Francisco 49ers eliminated the team from the playoffs for the second straight year, Mike McCarthy found himself under fire heading into 2023. While former offensive line coach Kellen Moore was made to pay for the team’s missteps the previous season, McCarthy will be exposed if Dallas struggles in the postseason once more.
Nevertheless, given that McCarthy’s record as Dallas’ head coach is 62-40 since his hiring, owner Jerry Jones would need to find a replacement who could really push the team to the top. Belichick stands out as the most obvious choice to satisfy the requirements, and it seems like Dallas is considering hiring him already in case the team’s season ends early.
The Cowboys have now joined Washington as one of the teams “most connected” to Belichick, according to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. With the Cowboys’ roster and the NFC’s lower level of competition than the AFC, it’s simple to see why a partnership would be advantageous to both parties.