It looked like Bill Belichick was on track to break one of the most prestigious NFL records. His decades of dominance as the head coach of the Patriots made him one of the winningest of all time, and it looked like he’d threaten Don Shula’s all-time mark of 328 career victories. But after parting ways with New England and the current rumors that surround him, Belichick’s pursuit could be in serious jeopardy.
Bill Belichick Stuck On 302 Career Wins
He currently ranks third on the all-time list. Belichick has spent 29 years as an NFL head coach in his career, posting a .647 winning percentage in 467 games. That is good enough for a record of 302-165, giving him more wins than any coach not named Don Shula or George Halas. He sits 16 wins behind Halas, who picked up all of his 318 wins before 1968.
But the ultimate (and more modern) goal would be Shula’s 328 wins. Best known for his 26 years of coaching the Miami Dolphins, Shula’s mark has become the gold standard. His winning percentage of .677 is the highest of any coach in the top ten outside of Halas, though he has 6 tie games on his resume.
It was thought that Belichick would remain in the league just to catch Shula’s mark. Not only would it make him the all-time winningest coach in NFL history, but there may have been a personal vendetta brewing.
Shula Was Critical Of The Belichick-Led Patriots
Shula passed away back in 2020, but the former Dolphins’ coach was one of the vocal critics of the Patriots and their cheating accusations in 2007 and 2015. “The Spygate thing has diminished what they’ve accomplished,” Shula was quoted as saying. “You would hate to have that attached to your accomplishments. They’ve got it.”
Although Belichick has never made any public comments about the comments directly, it is widely assumed that they are a motivator for chasing the record.
“Bill Belichick is at his core a coach, and that’s what he would like to do in 2025.”@AdamSchefter provides the latest on Bill Belichick’s quest to return to coaching. pic.twitter.com/7RhKwxPDPg
— ESPN (@espn) December 10, 2024
There are a couple of factors now working against Bill Belichick in his pursuit. His Patriots went 29-38 during his final four years with the team, which slowed his pace. 2024 is his second season out of the league, and he may be losing time in terms of age. He would be 73 years old if he were to come back in 2025, a number that would tie Romeo Crennel for the oldest coaches in league history.
Now, it appears that Belichick’s interest in continuing as a coach may not lie in the NFL. He made headlines last week when it was announced that he had interviewed for the head job at the University of North Carolina. There are apparently discussions ongoing, but many of the signs point to one of the greatest NFL coaches of all-time joining the college ranks.
Don Shula’s record would be safe, at least for a while. Andy Reid needs 58 more victories to reach 328, and he is already 66 years old. Mike Tomlin at 52 could have a shot, but he still needs 145 victories.
