Former NFL coach Bill Belichick intended to get hired by the Atlanta Falcons after being fired by the New England Patriots.
After being rejected by the lone team that had a head coaching position open and had an interview, Belichick is allegedly being pushy with his prospective new employer a few weeks later.
There were other chances for Belichick, who turns 72 in April, to continue coaching in the NFL. He received a call from a potential Super Bowl contender asking if he would be interested in taking over as their defensive coordinator. But that question was swiftly turned down, and the greatest NFL coach ever will no longer coach football in 2024.
Related: A documentary on the New England Patriots shows a divide between Malcolm Butler and Bill Belichick
Belichick does have suitors, though. This offseason, Peyton Manning and Omaha Productions have been aggressively courting Belichick in an attempt to cast him in a special role that will highlight his football acumen and unlock a hidden personality. There are apparently conditions tied to their readiness to work together, even though there appears to be some mutual interest in a TV role.
The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reports that ESPN is aggressively seeking a role for Belichick in the forthcoming NFL season. Though it might be in tandem with Manning’s endeavor, the network is keenly interested in acquiring the former Patriots coach for its own shows.
Related: Peyton Manning is interested in a TV gig with Bill Belichick
Marchand claims that Belichick is communicating to TV networks his disinterest in appearing in a typical studio program. Although it has been stated pretty clearly that Belichick’s requirements would have to be followed, there is an openness to airing the 2024 season on television.
Belichick may only be in town for a short while, even if he accepts a position with ESPN or another network. His desire to rejoin the NFL, take back the head coaching position, and have some degree of personnel control—as he did with New England—remains. Belichick might work as an NFL analyst for a year before going back to the sidelines in 2025, since there are a number of prestigious head-coaching positions in the NFL that could become available.
