The biggest free agent of the upcoming NFL offseason is proving to be Bill Belichick.
Initially unable to find coaching work after being jettisoned from New England at the end of last season, the 72-year-old is now being linked with just about every struggling team outside of his nemesis, the New York Jets.
This time it’s the Jacksonville Jaguars who have reportedly emerged as a team to watch in the hunt for Belichick.
‘Let’s get into this because there’s a lot of chatter about Bill Belichick taking that job,’ The Athletic’s Dianna Russini said in a recent episode of the »Scoop City» podcast. ‘I can tell you that Belichick certainly has his eye on this Jacksonville opening. This is an organization that has tons of respect for Belichick. They’ve got a good relationship already.’
To be clear, there is no opening just yet. Head coach Doug Pederson remains gainfully employed. But with starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence battling shoulder issues and the team falling to 2-9 with Sunday’s 52-6 pounding in Detroit, the Jags appear resigned to their fate.
The biggest free agent of the upcoming NFL offseason is proving to be Bill Belichick
In place of Lawrence, Pederson has been starting Belichick’s former punching bag, Mac Jones, although the backup quarterback’s future in his native Jacksonville might come to an end if his former coach were to replace his current one. Belichick’s 2023 decision to bench Jones, a former first-round pick, was one of the major storylines of the Coach’s final season in Foxborough.
For better or worse, the Jags are committed to Lawrence for at least the next four years, albeit with a cap figure that will grow to $47 million by 2028.
Aside from quarterback, the Jaguars have a talented young receiver in Brian Thomas Jr. and established pass rusher in Joshua Hines-Allen, with some roster flexibility to boot.
There remains the question of who would be in charge in Jacksonville. It’s unclear if current general manager Trent Baalke will be retained and if so, if he and Belichick would be willing to work together.
The pair do have some history with the Jets under head coach Bill Parcells when Belichick was serving as that team’s defensive coordinator.
Doug Pederson is reportedly on the hot seat in Jacksonville, where the Jaguars are just 2-9
And at least one NFL insider says Belichick is not fixated on serving as GM, as he effectively did in New England.
‘Bill is upfront about it,’ Hall of Fame coach Jimmy Johnson told WQAM 560 AM’s ‘The Joe Rose Show.’ ‘He said, ‘Hey, I don’t have to be in charge of everything.’
‘That’s what happened up in New England,’ Johnson continued. ‘He kind of fell into that deal, and it’s not necessarily that he pushed for it. That’s what happened because he was there for so long. He is more than willing to give up the decision-making to the general manager and the personnel people.’
Still, as Russini previously reported, Belichick wants ‘as much authority as he can get’ in any future job.
Belichick did interview for the Atlanta Falcons job after leaving New England but was ultimately passed over in favor of Raheem Morris.
Other potential vacancies that could tempt him include Mike McCarthy’s job with the Dallas Cowboys or New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll’s position in Belichick’s old stomping grounds, East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Other positions in Chicago and Las Vegas are also a possibility, with the latter offering the intriguing possibility of a reunion with minority owner Tom Brady.
