The post-Brady era has not gone well thus far for Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots. New England’s 2-8 start to the 2023 season has many people wondering if Belichick’s time with the team is coming to an end.
Belichick is both the head coach and the GM of the Patriots, so he will not be easy to replace. Football betting sites will have odds on all of the potential teams that could try to bring in the legendary figure if he does leave New England.
Keep reading to see the five NFL teams that should hire Belichick if he does leave the Patriots. We know that at least a handful of teams will be in the market for a new head coach. I will break down my five top contenders and tell you why they need to go all in on Bill.
Will Bill Belichick Be Fired After This Season?
First and foremost, is this Belichick’s last season in New England? While he has not been fired yet, the writing certainly seems to be on the wall for the legendary head coach.
If You’re Calling for Bill Belichick to Get Fired Midseason, YOU Need to Be Fired. Straight Into the Sun. https://t.co/JIs2ip75Jm. pic.twitter.com/sdw35JxF0M
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) November 14, 2023
Patriots owner Robert Kraft has made his frustrations with the team known. As the GM and head coach, the failures in roster building and on-field performance rest solely with Belichick. He is under contract, but Kraft has more than enough money to pay Belichick a settlement.
There is a chance that New England could stick with Belichick. After all, he did take the team to unprecedented heights over the last two decades-plus. However, given his struggles in recent drafts, it is hard to imagine Kraft trusting Belichick with another chance at a rebuild.
Can a Team Trade for Belichick?
Belichick does not have to be fired in order to go to a new team next season. Another team could trade for the legendary head coach.
Denver traded for Sean Payton this past summer. The Broncos sent a first and a second-round pick to the Saints to acquire their new head coach.
It is hard to say exactly what Belichick’s value would be to other teams. On one hand, New England has struggled under Belichick since Tom Brady left. On the other hand, the legendary GM and head coach is on the cusp of breaking the all-times win record for an NFL coach.
Which Teams Should Go After Belichick?
The future for Belichick in New England is unclear. If he does leave and decide to coach somewhere else, there are plenty of teams that could use his talents. Here are the five teams I think could benefit the most from hiring Bill Belichick.
LA Chargers
The Chargers have seemingly pulled off the unthinkable and drafted another future Hall of Fame QB. However, unlike the Green Bay Packers, the Chargers have not been able to turn their luck into a Super Bowl win.
Philip Rivers retired without even so much as a Super Bowl appearance for the Chargers, let alone a win. Unfortunately, Justin Herbert appears to be destined for a similar fate.
LA started this season 4-6, and there is no denying that head coach Brandon Staley should officially be on the hot seat. First and foremost, Staley is a defensive-minded coach, and the Chargers defense has been terrible in recent years. There are plenty of playmakers on defense, but they have underperformed.
Herbert has also failed to take a step forward as a QB in the NFL. He still has all the potential he did as a rookie, but he also still makes plenty of rookie mistakes. That is unacceptable for a third-year NFL QB.
Belichick could easily win 10 games a year with the talent LA has on defense, If he is willing to keep Kellen Moore on as the OC, Herbert and the Chargers’ offense would also likely improve.
Washington Commanders
Another franchise that should consider going after Belichick is the Washington Commanders. The team was recently sold, and the new owners will want to turn things around as quickly as possible.
Ron Rivera has been the head coach in Washington since the 2020 season. Unfortunately, he has been unable to recreate the success he had as the head coach in Carolina. Washington is just 26-34 through the first 60 games under Rivera.
This season has been especially disappointing for Rivera. The Commanders have lost to their NFC East rivals, the New York Giants, twice this year. New York went just 8-1 against the rest of the NFL to start the season.
Belichick would have his work cut out for him if he went to Washington. However, he would also have a lot of control and draft capital to work with. The commanders traded away players at this year’s trade deadline, including star pass rusher Chase Young.
Chicago Bears
Chicago is also likely going to be in need of a new head coach after this season. Like Washington, the Bears are a historic franchise Belichick could help bring back to prominence.
Also, the Bears have a lot of draft capital that Belichick could use to rebuild. Chicago has their pick and Carolina’s pick in the first round. The Panthers’ selection could easily end up being the first overall pick in 2024.
Currently, Matt Eberflus is the head coach in the Windy City. However, he is just 3-22 in his first 25 games as the Bears’ head coach. It would not be surprising if GM Ryan Poles were also let go after this season.
Belichick is renowned for his ability to scheme up defenses. Chicago’s best teams have always been led by their defenses. Belichick could be the perfect candidate to build a new, dominant defense in Chicago.
The NFC is also much weaker than the AFC. So, moving conferences would, in theory, make it easier for Belichick to catch Don Shula in career wins as a head coach.
Las Vegas Raiders
So far, the Raiders are the only NFL team to fire their coach this season. Josh McDaniels lasted 25 games in Las Vegas, racking up a 9-16 record as the Raiders’ head coach.
McDaniels also flamed out as the head coach in Denver. His only real success has come with the Patriots. McDaniels was on New England’s coach staff for all six of their Super Bowl victories.
The Raiders could double down on the Patriots’ Way by hiring Belichick. Las Vegas is one of the dew places where the legendary coach would also have a chance to be the GM as well.
Also, the Raiders have made a habit of hiring people after they have past their primes. If Belichick is washed, hiring him would certainly be on-brand for Las Vegas.
New York Giants
Another franchise that has had a turnstile at the head coaching position in recent years is the New York Giants. The Giants hired Brian Daboll to be their head coach last season. He racked up a 9-7-1 record in his first season as head coach.
New York started 3-8 this season, though, and the offense has been unwatchable. Belichick got his start with the Giants, winning his first two Super Bowls under Bill Parcells.
Returning to New York would bring Belichick’s career full circle. There are plenty of obstacles in the way of this storybook reunion, though.
For example, the defense is talented, but New York’s offense needs a lot of work. As we have seen in the last few years, fixing a bad offense is easier said than done for Belichick. New York’s offensive struggles are complicated by the four-year deal they gave to QB Daniel Jones.
Honorary Mention: Dallas Cowboys
There are plenty of teams that will be in the market for a head coach this offseason. Bill Belichick will likely be a candidate for any job that he wants.
One team that is unlikely to be in the market but should still consider Belichick is the Dallas Cowboys. Mike McCarthy has shown in the last seasons that his ineptitude as a head coach will cost the Cowboys in the playoffs. Belichick and his teams are known for being the exact opposite.
Dak Prescott is the perfect QB for a Belichick coached team. The Cowboys also have a great defense that is led by a young star in Micah Parsons. That defense in Belichick’s hands could be one of the best of all time.
I doubt that Jerry Jones would be willing to take a back seat to Belichick, though. Jones famously butted heads with Belichick’s mentor, Bill Parcells, for similar reasons. If Jones could swallow his pride, though, Belichick could be exactly what Dallas needs to make it to the Super Bowl.
Where Will Bill Belichick Coach in 2024?
The longtime partnership between Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots could be coming to an end. If Belichick does leave after this season, he will do so just shy of the all-time wins record. Check out the list above to see my picks for the five teams that should pursue Belichick this offseason.
