Multiple NFL insiders think it’s a possibility former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick could be in play for the Kansas City Chiefs next season. Reports have surfaced in the previous few weeks the Chiefs are preparing for the possibility that head coach Andy Reid will retire following the postseason.
Bill Belichick has limited options
As I previously discussed on GH, the Chiefs are a better fit for Belichick than the Atlanta Falcons because the 72-year-old head coach would not have to rebuild Kansas City. The Falcons job is unavailable to Belichick after the Falcons hired Raheem Morris Thursday.
Belichick appeared to be patient in the coaching search. He was likely too patient to find a head coaching job for the 2024 season. Only the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders have coaching vacancies as of Friday afternoon. Belichick has not interviewed for either of those jobs.
The Kansas City Chiefs are a top fit for Belichick
However, a few NFL insiders think Belichick could be in the hunt for the Chiefs job. It doesn’t have a vacancy yet, but retirement rumors have been circling heavily around tight end Travis Kelce and Reid this month.
Per the Desert News transcription, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said, while “having fun” on Get Up this week, Belichick would be an interesting possibility with the Chiefs next season:
“If the Chiefs were to win the Super Bowl this year, could that, would that make (Reid) more likely to walk?” Schefter said. “And if he did walk, at that point in time and you’re the Kansas City Chiefs, and Bill Belichick were still sitting out there, would that not be an interesting possibility, if that’s what Andy Reid decided to do? To go take a run at arguably the greatest coach of all time and to replace one legend with another?”
Retirement rumors hover around Andy Reid
Responding to Schefter’s hypothetical, Mike Florio with NBC Sports said the Chiefs are a “hot spot” for Belichick to land if Reid retires. Florio pointed out a few reasons why the Chiefs might not hire Belichick even if Reid retired this offseason:
That said, there’s still one potential hot spot to watch for 2024…
If Reid steps down (and no one knows whether he would; we’ve only said the possibility is on the team’s radar screen), would the Chiefs want Belichick? Players might make a private and/or public push for Eric Bieniemy. Moreover, they might not want Belichick to install the Patriot Way, which would dramatically change the culture of a team that has been doing pretty well with its existing vibe.
FS1’s Craig Carton is more convinced about Belichick being the Chiefs’ next head coach. Carton said Belichick would be with the Chiefs next season if Reid retired after the season:
“I think Bill Belichick will be the next head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs next year. I think that’s where he goes after Andy Reid retires after this year.”
"I think Bill Belichick will be the next head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs next year. I think that's where he goes after Andy Reid retires after this year."
— @craigcartonlive pic.twitter.com/BusiIZDAW4
— The Carton Show (@TheCartonShow) January 26, 2024
Atlanta didn’t feel like a brilliant fit for Belichick because of their quarterback situation. The Falcons will need to shuffle some pieces around and build around a new signal caller. Belichick doesn’t have time for that.
Belichick doesn’t have time for the rebuild the Seahawks or the Commanders endure. Four jobs in the NFL makes sense for him this offseason, the Chiefs, Bills, Cowboys, and Eagles.
The only jobs that could be in play for next year are the Chiefs and Bills. Otherwise, Belichick is going to have to wait a season.
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