New Report: Atlanta Falcons Hiring Former Patriots Coach Bill Belichick
According to a new report by NFL on CBS insider Josina Anderson, New England Patriots' legend Bill Belichick will be the next head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.
Though highly coveted on the NFL market and with seven teams having coaching openings, the 71-year-old Belichick has only interviewed with the Falcons. According to Anderson, the deal is "expected, barring a snag in negotiations."
Another report says Belichick is indeed the Falcons' "top candidate", and that he flew to Atlanta in one of owner Arthur Blank's private jets Thursday night. An Atlanta TV station is also reporting that members of Belichick's potential staff are already reaching out to the Falcons to "inquire about personnel."
Belichick, who led the Patriots to six Super Bowls before parting ways last week, met this week face-to-face with Blank on the owner's $180 million yacht off the coast of Antigua. He also has a second interview scheduled with Atlanta's front office (including team CEO Rich McKay) this weekend.
Belichick to the Falcons isn't signed and sealed, but ...
While the Patriots forge ahead without Belichick in charge of the organization for the first time in a quarter-century - and with new coach Jerod Mayo - his second act in Atlanta will be fascinating to New England fans on several fronts.
He is 14 wins shy of tying Don Shula for the NFL's record for coaching wins. The Falcons will play in Foxboro in 2025, potentially setting up one of the most dramatic returns "home" in the history of American sports.
Also, there's the little matter of "28-3." The Falcons led the Pats by that score in Super Bowl LI in 2017, only to have Belichick's squad rally for a historic 34-28 in overtime. Falcons fans will be left to juxtapose Belichick being both a villain in one of their all-time worst moments and the hero attempting to lead them to their first championship.
