Bill Belichick, the highly accomplished former coach of the New England Patriots, is inching closer to joining the Atlanta Falcons as their new head coach. Following a second coaching interview with the Falcons on Friday, rumors abound that Belichick is the team's top choice for the position. In fact, there are reports that he flew to Atlanta on owner Arthur Blank's private jet, further fueling speculation.
For the Falcons, who have not had a winning season since 2017 and have never won a Super Bowl championship, securing Belichick's services would be a stunning turn of events. It was only a few years ago that the Falcons suffered their biggest disappointment at the hands of Belichick, when he led the Patriots to a historic comeback victory in Super Bowl LI. Down 28-3 in the second half, the Patriots rallied to win 34-28 in overtime, leaving the Falcons reeling.
In recent years, the Falcons have struggled to find success, and the firing of former coach Arthur Smith after yet another 7-10 season highlighted the need for change. Belichick, who boasts an unrivaled six Super Bowl championships, is coming off a subpar season with the Patriots, where the team finished with a dismal 4-13 record, marking the worst season of his career.
Both Belichick and the Falcons shared a common problem in their quarterback position. The Falcons were constantly shuffling between Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke, desperately searching for stability. Meanwhile, the Patriots faced significant struggles at the quarterback position, with Mac Jones being benched and Bailey Zappe also struggling to make an impact.
If Belichick were to take the helm in Atlanta, it would likely be with the understanding that the Falcons' leadership, including owner Arthur Blank, CEO Rich McKay, and general manager Terry Fontenot, are committed to improving the quarterback situation. A strong quarterback is seen as pivotal to the team's success moving forward.
With an impressive career record of 333-178, including playoff games, Belichick clearly has the desire to continue coaching as he eyes the late Don Shula's record of 347 victories. During his tenure with the Patriots, Belichick formed a formidable partnership with quarterback Tom Brady, resulting in six Super Bowl titles and cementing their legacy as one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history. Additionally, Belichick's coaching prowess was evident during his time as part of Bill Parcells' staff with the New York Giants, where he was part of two championship-winning teams.
However, Belichick's reputation suffered a blow after Brady's departure from the Patriots following the 2019 season. Brady promptly won his seventh Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a division rival of the Falcons. In contrast, the Patriots have struggled since then, with only one winning season and a record of 29-38, not much better than the Falcons' 25-42 mark over the same period.
In addition to Belichick, the Falcons have conducted interviews with a range of candidates, including Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, Ravens assistant head coach and defensive line coach Anthony Weaver, and Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson.
As the Falcons continue their search for a new head coach, the potential addition of Bill Belichick certainly raises eyebrows and brings hope to the organization. With his proven track record and wealth of experience, Belichick could provide the leadership and expertise needed to turn the Falcons into a winning team once again.
