How Did Patriots Ex Belichick 'Blow Lead' in Falcons' Head Coach Hiring?
Any mention of Bill Belichick and the Atlanta Falcons includes referencing the events of Super Bowl LI: that game in Houston saw the former's New England Patriots erase a 28-3 lead over the Dirty Birds en route to a 34-28 triumph, the penultimate of six Vince Lombardi Trophy hoists during his near quarter-century at the helm.
It appears that another loss, one dealt against all odds, will likewise come to define this eccentric relationship.
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A report from Jeff Howe of The Athletic detailed the star-crossed pairing of Belichick and the Falcons. Atlanta immediately brought Belichick in for an interview for its head coaching vacancy upon his mutual parting of ways with the Patriots but wound up hiring Raheem Morris instead. The lack of a job offer stems from a familiar refrain that has followed Belichick's new nomadic fate: creative control, or lack thereof.
“They were each on a fact-finding mission to determine whether the organization’s power structure was the right fit to sustain success with Belichick, who had become accustomed to total control over football operations, as Falcons owner Arthur Blank was poised to keep his leadership structure intact,” Howe wrote. "Sources close to Belichick also cited a frosty relationship with Falcons president Rich McKay as a primary reason the parties might have decided they could or should not work together.”
Despite seven other head coaching vacancies beyond New England, Howe's report says that the Falcons "were the only known suitor with serious interest" in hiring Belichick. Though mired in a six-season playoff drought, the Falcons boasted one of the more optimistic coaching situations among the searchers thanks to a plethora of young talents (i.e. Tyler Allgeier, Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Bijan Robinson) earned over the past few drafts.
But the Falcons also reportedly let apparent recency bias get in the way, reducing Belichick to spectator status for the first time in nearly half a century.
"(Belichick's) past accomplishments mattered less to the Falcons compared with what they thought Morris could bring to their future," Howe reported. "Three primary reasons were echoed by numerous league sources: Belichick’s mishandling of the Patriots’ quarterback situation in recent years, his desire to maintain total control of football operations, and a growing concern over the coach’s ability to relate to this generation of players."
Despite its plethora of potential, Atlanta will likely find its offseason defined by its quarterback search, which will look to replace the pairing of Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke. Belichick's handling of the doomed Mac Jones era was enough to scare off the Falcons, who have had their own issues succeeding franchise staple Matt Ryan.
Time will tell if Belichick finds another headset to wear before he's unwilling or unable to keep pressing forward. But his post-New England forecast has already gotten rather bleak and his apparent obsession with a full-on roster dictatorship isn't helping matters.
