Package Deal? Bill Belichick Rumored to Hire Josh McDaniels for Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons have the opportunity to transition from a head coaching tenure filled with media squabbles to one that barely meets the media requirement at all. Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is on the market, and he may find his way to Atlanta.
However, the Falcons just moved on from coach Arthur Smith, whose offenses disappointed and whose young quarterback underachieved. Would Belichick, who benched quarterback Mac Jones on several occasions this season, solve the key issue of the previous administration?
Oct 30, 2023; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Las Vegas Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels congratulates Detroit Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell (58) after the Lions beat the Raiders in Monday Night Football at Ford Field.
© Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports
Belichick’s greatness shouldn’t be debated, but his legitimacy for a team likely to acquire a young passer could be. Especially if he hires former Las Vegas Raiders head coach – and long-time Patriots coach – Josh McDaniels to be his offensive coordinator.
With as polarizing of a character as Belichick, whose career isn’t complete without six Super Bowl championships in New England and almost as many scandals, people are decidedly split.
“Belichick would inherit a talented defense in Atlanta and an offense with better weaponry than his Patriots employ, but with a similarly problematic quarterback situation,” Mike Sando wrote. “... But if Falcons ownership expects Belichick and his presumed offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, to find a long-term quarterback, that could be problematic.”
Neither Belichick nor McDaniels have a strong history of developing young quarterbacks in an attempt to replace or replicate Tom Brady. However, a free-agent passer may solve this issue from the jump. Is a Belichick Band-Aid what this franchise needs?
John Middlekauff was bullish.
“To me, he’s a valuable candidate if you pair him back with Josh McDaniels,” Middlekauff said. “If the elite defensive mind, and the guy that knows how to do everything at the head seat of the table, has his offensive coordinator when he’s the defensive guy, I’m all in.”
McDaniels most recently crashed and burned in Las Vegas, being fired in the middle of the season, though many pin his failures on the interpersonal skills rather than the offense itself – though that too did struggle.
Belichick, on his own merits, is likely the best candidate available. His résumé is unmatched and his personality is far different than Smith’s, for better or worse. But with McDaniels in tow, Atlanta will have to answer questions about itself and its plans before making the hire.
