Insider: How Falcons Front Office 'Nudged' Arthur Blank Away From Hiring Bill Belichick
The Atlanta Falcons have their new coach, but it isn't the one many thought going into the offseason that they'd end up with. In fact, new coach Raheem Morris may not have even been the original No. 1 choice for team owner Arthur Blank.
As many would've expected, the long-rumored preferred choice for the Falcons was former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, per a report from Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer.
So, if that was the case, then what happened?
"My understanding is Blank went into the process wanting to hire Belichick as coach," Breer writes. "But those around the owner, fearing what that could mean for them, nudged him in different directions. After a while, the amount of change hiring Belichick could require weighed on Blank. Especially when taking into consideration that making that amount of change might only get him two years of Belichick."
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After 24 years with the Patriots, all of which saw Belichick retain de facto general manager powers in addition to his job as the coach, it is somewhat understandable why those in the front office were worried about adding the six-time Super Bowl champion.
That is in addition to the fact that at 72 years old, time is not on Belichick's or his potential future employer's side when it comes to a long-term plan.
It is believed that despite already having a place in Canton reserved for his Hall of Fame induction. Belichick's motivation for finding another job after mutually parting ways with the Patriots was to break Don Shula's all-time wins record. And maybe even win his seventh Super Bowl, which would see him tie his former quarterback, Tom Brady, in the championship rings department.
While it is unclear if Belichick will be a coach next season, one thing is clear: it won't be with the Falcons.
