Report: Bill Belichick could land on TV if not offered head coaching job

With six of eight head coaching vacancies filled, the likelihood of Bill Belichick being a head coach in 2024 is shrinking by the day.

Though the Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks still have openings, Belichick isn’t currently viewed as a candidate for either job, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The 71-year-old could instead find himself on TV as an NFL analyst before potentially being one of the most coveted head coaching candidates this time next year.

The Insiders on @NFLGameDay: Bill Belichick, with no coaching landing spot, may land on TV; #Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh is set to bring on DC Jesse Minter from #Michigan; The #Eagles hire OC Kellen Moore, who will bring fresh ideas. pic.twitter.com/pk64U5C87L

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 28, 2024

“Bill Belichick may sit out the year,” Rapoport said Sunday. “This is actually amazing. I know we’ve gone over this before but it’s still amazing to think about the greatest coach of all-time as of right now does not have a landing spot. The Commanders and Seahawks are the only teams that have openings, and my understanding is that Belichick is not in play at either place.

“So, he does have some options: He can sit out the year and potentially become maybe the most coveted coach next year… Could be a consultant for a team… I wouldn’t be surprised if he joined us right here — well not right here — but right here in the TV world. [He’s] already won an Emmy, wouldn’t put it past him to try for another.”

Bill Belichick receives little interest during HC hiring cycle

Though it would be hard to imagine an NFL without with Belichick in it, he wouldn’t be the first to take a year off from coaching only to return a year later. Sean Payton notably parted ways with the New Orleans Saints after the 2021 season and joined FOX Sports in 2022. He returned in 2023 as head coach of the Denver Broncos.

Belichick is a free agent for the first time this century, spending the last 24 seasons as head coach of the New England Patriots. He is the most accomplished head coach of all-time, winning six Super Bowls with the Patriots. He won two additional Super Bowls as defensive coordinator for the New York Giants.

Following the departure of quarterback Tom Brady in 2020, Belichick and the Patriots endured their least amount of success together. In his final four seasons with the Patriots, Belichick went 29-38 with just one playoff appearance. New England holds the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

The Atlanta Falcons were the only team to interview Belichick for their head coaching vacancy during this hiring cycle. Atlanta interviewed Belichick twice, though they eventually hired former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris for the job.