Bill Belichick is still one of the hottest free agents in the market — but that heat just isn't for coaching in the NFL.
The six-time Super Bowl winning coach was unable to secure a coaching position in the NFL for the upcoming season, and is now being considered a top media voice that major media outlets like ESPN, CBS, and NBC are looking to secure.
Belichick has still not signed on the dotted line anywhere — and has reportedly been opposed to working a studio broadcasting position — but he already signed on to do at least one thing in the media.
The former New England Patriots head coach will be working with Pat McAfee for the NFL Draft in "The Pat McAfee Show Draft Spectacular" which will air on YouTube and ESPN+.
Related: ESPN exec who was recently called out by Pat McAfee is suddenly leaving the company
McAfee had Belichick on his show on Wednesday, April 17 to announce Belichick's presence on the Draft special, but he stayed away from asking questions about the coach's inability to secure a head coaching gig in the NFL. This came even as ESPN, the company with a license to air McAfee's show, ran a story on the same day that outlined the details of Belichick's inability to secure a job.
That report included statements that said that Patriots owner Robert Kraft told Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank to "not trust Bill." Belichick had interviewed for the Falcons head coaching job, which was eventually given to Raheem Morris.
Sports media pundit Dan Le Batard, who has often lent his commentary to the sports media space, had a specific takeaway from Belichick and McAfee's announcement.
In the past, Le Batard has been complimentary of McAfee's unfiltered approach in sports media. But Le Batard said that McAfee refusing to ask Belichick about the coaching carousel showcased how sports media is changing.
"McAfee is proud of doing it his way, and there are a many people who I've talked to in the athlete space including Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes, who say that they want to protect relationships," Le Batard said.
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Le Batard, who recently partnered with former NBA veterans Jackson and Barnes, said that he thinks this change seems to be enough as the access to athletes has become more important than the questions being asked of them.
"I believe that this is a change going forward that you are going to have to get used to — in exchange for the access someone asking questions who doesn't feel beholden to ask what it is that you think should be asked on behalf of the audience or journalists or anything else," Le Batard said. "I don't suppose anyone will care that Bill Belichick was not asked about the report ... but I would have liked to have heard Belichick's response to that ... I don't believe that people, as long as they can get their access to Bill Belichick, what has to be exchanged for that."
This behavior is nothing new to McAfee, who has had on controversial quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the past and allowed him to let out his thoughts about the COVID-19 vaccine without much pushback from the host.
Related: Stephen A. Smith addresses Pat McAfee fight, but doesn't deny it happened
