New England Patriots' Bill Belichick Betting Favorite to Coach Los Angeles Chargers in 2024; Odds-On Successor in Foxboro?
With Friday's firing by the Los Angeles Chargers of their head coach and general manager comes a seismic shift by the wise guys who predict the NFL via odds. For the first time since arriving in Foxboro in 2000, New England Patriots' coach Bill Belichick is the betting favorite to coach another team.
In the wake of the Chargers firing coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco, Belichick is the No. 1 candidate to take over L.A. in 2024. The destination - complete with multiple openings and talented quarterback Justin Herbert - makes sense in that Belichick would require head-coaching duties and control over player personnel as the de facto GM. Since he's under contract with New England through 2024, owner Robert Kraft could trade the future Hall-of-Fame coach for assets that could include draft picks or even players.
Belichick is the favorite with 3/1 odds. Also on the list is Chargers' offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, Cowboys' defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and USC head coach Lincoln Riley.
While Bill Belichick is the betting favorite to head to west to the Chargers next season, Pats' defensive coordinator Jerod Mayo has the best odds of becoming his successor.
Source: NBC Sports Boston
While the Belichick-Chargers connection gains steam, betting odds are also heating up as to who would replace the legendary coach in Foxboro next season.
The favorite as of Friday is Pats' defensive coordinator Jerod Mayo, who turned down interviews with other teams last offseason to remain in New England. (He's also listed as a longshot for the Chargers' head coaching job, well behind his current boss, Belichick.) And as horribly horrific as the Pats' offense has been during this 3-10 season, Mayo's defense - even without leading pass-rusher Matthew Judon and best cornerback Christian Gonzalez - has performed admirably.
Behind Mayo on the list of potential successors is Tennessee Titans coach (and Patriots Hall of Famer) Mike Vrabel, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and Washington Commanders' offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Pats' offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien makes the list, but only as a sixth-place longshot just behind Philadelphia Eagles' offensive coordinator Brian Johnson and just ahead of former Arizona Cardinals' head coach Kliff Kingsbury.
