While Bill Belichick will take on a number of media roles this season, he remains steadfast in his desire to return to the head coaching ranks in 2025. As could be expected, he apparently has no interest in returning to the sidelines as anything other than an HC; we learned back in July that the 49ers had offered Belichick the chance to join their staff this offseason (perhaps as defensive coordinator), and per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Rams also eyed Belichick for their DC vacancy.
Los Angeles had an opening after Raheem Morris left the team to take the Falcons’ head coaching job. Of course, Atlanta ultimately became the club most connected to hiring Belichick as HC, interviewing the future Hall of Famer twice before a number of factors — among them internal concerns about organizational structure — steered owner Arthur Blank away from Belichick and towards Morris.
Ultimately, the Rams promoted Chris Shula, who has spent the past seven seasons working his way up the team’s coaching ladder, to defensive coordinator. Belichick, meanwhile, will continue focusing his efforts on catching Shula’s grandfather, Don Shula, who is currently 15 wins ahead of Belichick on the all-time list.
According to both Schefter and Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, Belichick’s various media projects will double as a tool to stay familiar with the league and its players as he readies himself for possible interviews in 2025. He has reportedly informed people close to him that he expects to land at least one HC interview next year.
Naturally, if Belichick has the chance to become a head coach again, he will not take just any opportunity. Schefter confirms that the 72-year-old will be “choosy” when it comes to his next HC endeavor, and we have repeatedly heard the Cowboys and Eagles floated as possibilities thanks to their strong rosters and status as Super Bowl contenders. The Giants, who employed Belichick from 1979-90, also make some sense as a possible landing spot.
Among other endeavors, Belichick will enjoy regular appearances on ManningCast, The Pat McAfee Show, and Inside the NFL while hosting a football show on YouTube TV and serving as a strategic adviser for the 33rd Team, a media and technology company that analyzes football. In addition to gathering intel and keeping his football mind sharp, his media pursuits will also serve two other purposes, per Jones, who spoke with an executive who worked with Belichick for years in Foxborough.
For one, he will have a chance to show a part of his personality other than the gruff, terse demeanor that was famously on display throughout his Patriots tenure. That could make owners and execs who would consider Belichick as a head coach but who might be concerned about his personal interactions more likely to hire him. And, if he does not get another HC gig, he will at least have laid a strong foundation for a media career, as the executive does not expect his longtime colleague to ever leave the football world.