Whereas it appeared like Invoice Belichick made a preemptive transfer to move on the 2025 HC carousel, groups are focused on seeing if he would hop again on for a second straight yr. Belichick took the highest job in North Carolina final month, however he’s now linked to NFL vacancies once more.
The Raiders are amongst them, in line with NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, who studies Tom Brady — who’s taking part in a central position within the Las Vegas HC search — just lately contacted his former coach to see a couple of reunion. A notable buyout quantity exists in Belichick’s Tar Heels contract, however it will not be a dealbreaker for an NFL workforce, contemplating what Belichick was incomes with the Patriots. At the very least one different workforce has inquired as effectively.
Earlier than June 1, it will price an NFL workforce $10M in a buyout situation with the ACC college. After that date, the buyout drops to $1M. The $10M fee could be due inside 180 days, The Athletic’s Tashan Reed provides. This was primarily designed to make sure a Belichick dedication this yr, and at his age (73 in April), it’s unrealistic to count on too many extra connections to NFL jobs past this yr. That made his Tar Heels resolution so stunning, contemplating the eight-time Tremendous Bowl winner (counting two DC rings) had solely coached within the NFL earlier than the December resolution.
Some at North Carolina are involved concerning the buyout situation, per CBS Sports activities’ Jonathan Jones, who signifies that $10M has not bothered NFL people. This stands to provide Belichick an precise security college, so to talk, as it will stand to cause he could be focused on an NFL alternative — had been it to return alongside after a befuddling 2024.
The Raiders fired Antonio Pierce on Tuesday, and veteran NFL insider Josina Anderson reported that a part of the delay was because of the availability of two unnamed candidates. It’s attainable {that a} feeler to Belichick indicated intrigue, although no interview is scheduled but. The Raiders have so far despatched invitations to Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson, with ex-Belichick assistant Brian Flores additionally on the radar. Contemplating Belichick’s previous with Josh McDaniels, this will surely be an attention-grabbing pursuit.
Certainly, Pelissero provides Brady spoke with Belichick whereas the Raiders had been figuring out Pierce’s future. It will stand to cause the quarterback-turned-announcer/minority proprietor’s former boss indicated he was . Mark Davis turning again to the Patriot Method could be unusual, given how rapidly the McDaniels-Dave Ziegler regime unraveled. However Davis has given Brady appreciable authority, signaling he’s OK with sure members of the previous dynasty.
The faculty recreation has modified considerably this decade, with the NIL panorama and switch portal reshaping all sports activities — soccer chief amongst them. Belichick signing on throughout this time all the time made for a wierd match, even along with his intensive background operating an NFL workforce. Belichick, nonetheless, was believed to be learning the school recreation as he decided potential NFL suits. No vital curiosity was believed to have come the legendary coach’s method from the league after the Falcons interviewed him twice final yr — being the one workforce to satisfy with him a couple of prime job — solely to move on him for Raheem Morris. Belichick was then reported to be “disgusted” with the NFL, setting his sights on the school recreation.
Whereas the opposite NFL Belichick suitors are unknown, Pelissero mentions the Jaguars as a possible match. Belichick has a relationship with Tony Khan, the son of Jaguars proprietor Shad Khan, and was loosely tied to that job earlier this season. A Belichick-Trent Baalke partnership was believed to be a non-starter, however the Jags could be open to an association during which Baalke slides to a unique position within the group after a four-year run as GM. Jacksonville, nonetheless, can also be extremely focused on Johnson.
Given how excessive Davis has been on Brady’s enter since his official arrival as a part-owner, the brand new organizational voice stumping for Belichick would make this a state of affairs to carefully monitor. Whereas it will put North Carolina in a nasty spot, Belichick noticed how different groups seen him in the course of the 2024 offseason, because the age situation proved vital. This could possibly be his final likelihood at an NFL gig, so it will be logical if this Raiders avenue would generate enchantment.
