The Bill Belichick era in New England will officially end at noon Thursday, but Belichick's time in the NFL is far from over. There's been no shortage of teams in need this coaching cycle, and two teams are poised to go after Belichick in the wake of the Patriots' move news. Atlanta Falcons and Washington Commanders.
It's unclear whether Belichick wants to continue coaching at age 71, but he could pass Don Shula as the winningest coach in NFL history with just 15 more wins. Personal glory was never a big deal for Bill, but it's the feather in his cap that cements him as arguably the greatest coach in football history.
Still, both the Falcons and Commanders have different challenges for those coming in, especially now with the pressure to win. If a decision is made between these two teams, who will tempt Belichick the most and who can benefit the most from it?
Falcons: A team that needs stability and reliability.
One of the things that has hurt the Falcons over the past 20 years has been a lack of experience at the head coaching position. From Jim Mora Jr. to Bobby Petrino to Mike Smith to Dan Quinn and finally Arthur Smith, this team was always trying to find success with a first-time head coach.
This led to four NFC South championships, but little playoff success aside from a Super Bowl berth in 2016. They lost to Bill Belichick and the Patriots.
Atlanta's roster is far from perfect, but it has players that coaches covet. Bijan Robinson naturally makes it easier to build an offense with running backs that match his talent, and they have two really good weapons in Drake Rondon and Kyle Pitts. There are some bright spots on defense, most notably Jesse Bates III and David Onyemata.
There are two things this team needs to compete. It's a new quarterback and a better pass rush. It's easier said than done, but for a player like Belichick, he doesn't come into this team with nothing.
What remains to be seen is how this team will operate structurally. Monday's press conference in which the team announced Smith's firing strangely omitted current Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot, who suggested the team might be open to hiring a new general manager. It gives credibility to the idea.
This is a somewhat uncertain outlook. We know Coach Belichick is great, but what about GM Belichick? There aren't that many, especially in recent history. However, it does not require a complete rebuild. Essentially, Belichick will be asked to take over an underperforming team and simply get the team over the hump. This is definitely something he can do.
Commander: A team built in his image
At the other end of the spectrum, commander of washingtonthis is very A different challenge.This team is currently recruiting coaches. and GM – This allows Belichick to fill both roles or work with others to build the roster.
Commanders are facing a major rebuild. There are very few players on this roster worth keeping at this point other than Terry McLaurin, Sam Cosmi, and Kendall Fuller. But that's not a big deal, especially when they have the NFL's No. 2 pick and a whopping $63 million in effective 2024 cap space.
This is a blank slate. A clean slate with fairly low pressure. There aren't that many hurdles to clear for success and it has to be very appealing. You have to go all the way back to Joe Gibbs to find a coach who left the Commanders after a winning tenure, and he left in 1992. Basically, all Belichick has to do is create conditions for this team to compete and improve incrementally. At 9-8, fans will be overjoyed to actually see this team play quality soccer.
Although it's a big job. There's a lot of work to do, but if the managers can find the right quarterback, there's a good chance this team will get one. texans-Like a resurrection. Gone is the idea that it will take him three to four years to build a franchise. This largely depends on how sophisticated a college player is when he enters the NFL, especially at the quarterback position. If you can develop a system that allows your players to succeed, you will be successful quickly. Perhaps no one is better at getting players to perform above their potential than Bill Belichick.
So which of these two teams should hire Bill Belichick?
Commander in Washington. This is where it makes the most sense for both parties. Atlanta's nearly ready roster is appealing, but they're really built for a brand of football that isn't Belichick's. The Falcons would be better off acquiring young, offensive minds who can take a look at the members of the roster and execute a plan built around them.
There's no question that Belichick is a step behind when it comes to drafting, but he's still a master of team building. If there's a concerted effort to take the pressure of the draft off Belichick and put someone Belichick trusts in the co-GM position, they could build something special out of it. Turning the Commanders into a competitive team would be an incredible feather in the cap of an already legendary coach, and depending on how long Belichick wants to continue coaching, he could lead the Commanders to the top of the NFC East. It might only take 3-4 years to make it a permanent element (if you're lucky).
Whatever happens next, it will be a significant change in the NFL and one to watch.
