Legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick has been tipped to eventually move into a full-time general manager position at the New England Patriots.
The coach, 70, is about to embark on his 23rd season in the NFL, with the Patriots looking to return to the Play-Offs having not been there since 2021. Eight-time Super Bowl -winning coach Belichick has also held the title of New England’s general manager since he joined the team in 2000.
But with a big season for the Patriots coming up, whether Belichick stays on as head coach beyond this season with Jerod Mayo in the wings is yet to be seen. “I could see him being the GM but not the coach,” said Charlie Weis on “Keyshawn, JWill & Max Show”, who was New England’s offensive coordinator from 2000-2004 under Belichick.
“You’re not going to get any better than him as coach. He’s the greatest coach ever in most people’s eyes. I don’t think he’d want to take a step down from there.
“I can see a point eventually where you end up transitioning — let’s say [Jerod] Mayo’s the guy. I could see a point eventually where Mayo’s the guy and Bill’s running the front office.”
Mayo becoming “the guy” at the Patriots while Belichick runs “the front office” could be the NFL franchise’s logical progression. The ex-Patriots linebacker had his stay as a coach extended this past offseason. Mayo has also turned down higher profile jobs in order to remain at his beloved Patriots.
In a bid to reach the Play-Offs, the Patriots and Belichick could look to trade quarterback Mac Jones to potentially pave the way for a move for Lamar Jackson. Belichick has been shopping Jones to multiple franchises throughout the 2023 offseason.
Jones enjoyed an impressive rookie season where he finished second in Offensive Rookie of the Year award and was named to the Pro Bowl after leading the Patriots to the Play-Offs for the first time since Tom Brady joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But it went downhill from there in 2022, with his relationship with head coach Belichick deteriorating as the Patriots failed to make the Play-Offs..
Last month, Jackson announced he had requested a trade from the Baltimore Ravens. Baltimore placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson, which allows him to speak to other franchises but the Ravens can match any contract offer or trade him for a pair of first round picks.
