There have been a remarkable number of NFL Head Coaches fired in the first week of the 2024 Offseason including big names like Bill Belichick and Mike Vrabel. Being a head coach in the National Football League is one of the most difficult jobs because while there is obviously significant time to strategize, your entire career can be made or ruined by one decision. Just on one example, I’d argue that Belichick was ruined singlehandedly by his decision to draft Mac Jones in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Former New England Coach Bill Belichick has an Ideal Landing Spot
Obviously the biggest name of the list, Belichick has the ability to retire right now and he would most likely be a first ballot hall of famer already. That being said, he has announced that he is interested in coaching again at the professional level and there are a few teams that he is speculated to be in the running for. Although I don’t think it would be a great decision for him, the team that fits Belichicks style closest would be a short trip away.
Belichick’s philosophy thrives on an excellent running game, a solid game managing quarterback and an elite defense. If there were a team that has the remnants capable of fitting that mold in the NFL, it would be the Washington Commanders. While they traded some of their best defensive weapons, the tandem of elite defensive tackles of Da’Ron Payne and Jonathan Allen are excellent building blocks for Belichick to work with on the defensive side. Washington also puts a historic emphasis on the running game and current running back Brian Robinson Jr. plays with the level of toughness that Belichick thrives on.
There has also been a lot of speculation that the legendary coach would land with either the Falcons or the Chargers. While I believe the Falcons have a similar pull to what Belichick may be looking for, Los Angeles would force the elite coach to work with another elite quarterback Justin Herbert. Even though the Falcons have high profile running back Bijan Robinson, they also have a lot of high profile offensive receivers in Kyle Pitts and Drake London.
With the exception of legendary receiver Randy Moss, Belichick has avoided high profile offensive players as he has elective to pick low profile players at the skill positions. That explains why he has typically replaced running backs every few years and has cycled through receivers more than any other team in the NFL. Since the only high profile player on the Commanders offense in elite wide receiver Terry McLaurin, that fits the model that Belichick has utilized through most of his career.
While I believe that Washington has the best fit for the legendary coach, I also believe that the best course of action for Belichick at this stage of his career is retirement. While he was able to excel with arguably the greatest player of all time at the quarterback position, Belichick’s entire football philosophy is straight out of the 1980s and doesn’t resonate with the newer generation anymore.
Since his time as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns in the 1990s, Belichick has been a firm believer in the smashmouth philosophy of having a overpowering running game between the tackles and having a front seven that can shut down the running game on the other side of the ball. While he may have had some excellent defensive backs over the years, Belichick has grown linebackers and defensive tackles the best. While his outdated philosophy may have worked with Brady, he simply doesn’t respect the quarterback position enough to compete in the modern game.
Mac Jones was his attempt in growing with the NFL but it was apparent that while he spent significant draft collateral in bringing Jones to New England, he was constantly at odds with himself about whether or not he wanted to rely on the passing game in New England. If Belichick were to stay in the NFL at this point, I envision the exact same events unfolding at whatever team he ends up with.
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