Although Bill Belichick was unemployed throughout this hiring cycle, there were apparently flimsy attempts to give the former head coach of the New England Patriots some thought.
A comprehensive article on the inner workings of Belichick’s job search was provided on Wednesday by Don Van Natta Jr., Seth Wickersham, and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. The impact Robert Kraft had on Arthur Blank, the owner of the Atlanta Falcons, was a significant revelation since it prevented the 72-year-old from being hired.
According to ESPN, Belichick is optimistic about his NFL prospects and has three NFC East clubs in mind for the upcoming season. The future Pro Football Hall of Famer expressed initial interest in the Washington Commanders, but they weren’t mentioned.
According to ESPN, Commanders minority owner Magic Johnson “lobbied hard” for Belichick to take over as the team’s next head coach. Belichick is said to have spoken with general manager Adam Peters, a former employee of the Patriots. Josh Harris, the majority owner, was a crucial factor in Washington’s decision to not even entertain Belichick as a head-coaching possibility.
ESPN stated, “But Josh Harris, the principal owner, told confidants in early December that he respected Belichick but wasn’t going to hire him. Josh Harris had spoken privately with (Robert) Kraft about Belichick.” “He preferred a strong general manager to a head coach, similar to the leadership structures he has with the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils.” Johnson supported Harris’s decision to hire the 44-year-old Peters as general manager before searching for a coach, which was a clear indication that Belichick was not a good fit. Belichick’s coach had concerns about operating under a strong-GM environment, according to a person close to him.
No further information was provided on Harris’ conversation with Kraft, but if it resembled Blank’s conversation with the Patriots owner, then that could have persuaded the Commanders to select Dan Quinn over Belichick.
Although it appears that the former head coach of the Patriots had no concerns about losing club control with the Falcons, things may have been different in Washington.
Belichick’s employment prospects won’t become clear until the upcoming offseason.
