After leading the greatest dynasty in NFL history for 24 years, Bill Belichick has officially joined his next team. Belichick and the New England Patriots decided to part ways Thursday, but the coach doesn’t want to call it a career.
Next year he will be with someone. The only question is where it will be.Normally, Bill Belichick would be the hottest name on the coaching market. But this is no ordinary year.
Jim Harbaugh may return to the NFL, Pete Carroll still wants to coach, and there are plenty of young offensive linemen like Ben Johnson who would attract the team. The Patriots haven’t been the same since Tom Brady left for Tampa Bay, but Bill Belichick still knows how to coach a defense.
Even if Belichick, now 72, misses a step or two, it would still generate a lot of interest around the league. Seven teams are currently searching for new head coaches (not including the Patriots). Let’s find out who is the best fit for Bill Belichick’s next team.Bill Belichick’s Next Team: Best Fit, Rankings
7. Tennessee TitansThe Tennessee Titans fired Mike Vrabel, so why would they want to hire the man who shaped their coaching philosophy? Vrabel never coached under Belichick, but he played for him, and it’s clear the two have similar values when it comes to team building. Even if the Titans were interested, it’s hard to see why Belichick would want to get involved. Tennessee is in the midst of a major overhaul and Belichick wants a better team for short-term success.
6. Pirates of Las VegasJosh McDaniels is a product of Bill Belichick, and the Raiders may be concerned that the apple can’t fall far on the coaching tree. It goes without saying that Bill Belichick is a much better coach than McDaniels, but Belichick’s next team won’t be one that makes the mistake of trusting one of his underlings.
5. Seattle SeahawksThe Seattle Seahawks fired Pete Carroll in search of a young voice to lead the team. Bill Belichick is many things, but age is not one of them. It would be poetic to see Bill Belichick replace Pete Carroll as head coach for a second time. But it’s hard to imagine this team having him as their next coach.
4. Carolina PanthersThe Carolina Panthers are showing interest in Bill Belichick, and Belichick has done his due diligence on the franchise. Belichick is a good fit for certain teams (more on that later), but it’s hard to see how he would fit with the Panthers.
There are a lot of components in defense, but this team needs someone with good experience in attack. Bryce Young will need all the help he can get, and with Bill Belichick unable to get along with Mack Jones, the Panthers would be better off finding an offensive mind as their next head coach.
3. Commander WashingtonThe Washington Commanders have two top wide receivers in Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson and are ranked second overall. This offense should be strong next year, but they need to do something defensively. Ron Rivera didn’t get anything out of this group, but Bill Belichick could be the right coach for this team.
After all, the 2023 Patriots still had one of the best units in the league despite losing Matthew Judon and Christian Gonzalez early in the season. If Drake May or Caleb Williams get off to a good start, this team could make the playoffs next year.
2. Los Angeles ChargersBill Belichick’s biggest weakness in recent years has been his inability to develop a successor to Tom Brady. If he was the next head coach of the Chargers, I wouldn’t worry.
Los Angeles has an elite young quarterback in Justin Herbert, so Belichick needs to get out of the way and fix the defense. He won’t win six Super Bowls with Herbert, but Bill Belichick will be dangerous if the Chargers become his next team.One. Atlanta FalconsThe Atlanta Falcons are the team expected to be Bill Belichick’s next team, and it’s easy to see why.
The offensive line is good, the weapons are in place and the defense has a lot of exciting players. They still need a quarterback, but they have the money to sign someone like Kirk Cousins. Competing in a weak NFC South and keeping Don Shula on the all-time wins list may be Belichick’s best option.
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