Invoice Belichick is not going to be a match for each staff with an HC emptiness. The six-time Tremendous Bowl-winning chief will flip 72 in April; no staff has employed a head coach older than 66. A rebuilding effort wouldn’t seemingly be a match, as Belichick is intent on breaking Don Shula‘s profession wins file.
Now formally separated from the Patriots after 24 years, Belichick is a training free agent. Whereas a number of groups have been tied to the all-time nice, Falcons noise is rising louder. After earlier connections emerged, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano notes the Falcons are anticipated to have sturdy curiosity in Belichick.
This place might actually attraction to Belichick as properly. The Falcons used back-to-back-to-back top-10 picks on skill-position gamers, and Professional Soccer Focus ranked Atlanta’s offensive line — one spearheaded by Chris Lindstrom and Jake Matthews — fourth total. After some free-agency {dollars} went to protection in 2023, the Falcons completed eleventh in whole protection and 18th in factors allowed. The Saints’ 48-point end dinged the latter placement, and DVOA was not as bullish, slotting the Falcons twenty fourth. However the unit is improved from 2022.
Granted, Belichick going from one staff with no quarterback reply to a different could be rather a lot to ask — particularly if the Chargers are legitimately — however the Falcons are anticipated to take an even bigger QB swing after standing down and going with Desmond Ridder final 12 months. Some near Belichick view this as an excellent match for the veteran coach, Graziano provides. The staff seems to be to be planning to maintain Terry Fontentot as GM, although it appears it’s versatile relating to his energy going into his fourth 12 months on the job. That stated, the Falcons worth Fontenot, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, making it arduous to imagine they may push him out at this level.
One other NFC South all-in push could be fascinating, contemplating the blueprint the Buccaneers established upon signing Tom Brady in 2020. Granted, Belichick has not been recognized — in most offseasons, no less than — for wild spending to fortify his roster, however his imaginative and prescient could change if a short-term plan is in place. He’s 14 wins shy of Shula’s all-time file. When it comes to cap area, the Falcons — who once more maintain the No. 8 total choose after a 7-10 season — reside within the center of the pack, being projected to hold greater than $21M.
Whereas it does appear to be a Belichick-Falcons interview will happen, the staff has despatched out eight requests to different staffers Thursday. Jim Harbaugh has not but obtained a slip from the Falcons, and Fowler provides the staff doesn’t look to have launched a pursuit of Michigan’s nationwide championship-winning HC simply but. Harbaugh figures to have choices out west, however the Belichick-to-Georgia storyline is clearly one to watch going ahead.
