End of an Era: Saban, Carroll Leave Coaching; Belichick Continues After Patriots?
In just the span of 24 hours, the football coaching world changed dramatically. And permanently.
First, it was announced on Wednesday that longtime Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll would be moving into an advisory role instead of staying on the sidelines for his 15th season. Then, three hours later, legendary college football coach Nick Saban announced his retirement after 17 seasons at Alabama.
Now, for the first time in 24 years, the New England Patriots will be looking for a new coach, as team owner Robert Kraft and Bill Belichick agreed to part ways.
In some ways, this is a day that not many could've imagined. But as the old saying goes, "all good things must come to an end," and the sport of football has certainly enjoyed a good time with this trio of coaches leading the way.
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Yet, with both Carroll and Saban seemingly turning the page on their coaching careers, Belichick still reportedly has gas in the tank despite being one year younger than his counterparts.
Despite amassing six Super Bowls, 266 wins, and outlasting 162 other coaches around the league throughout his tenure in New England, Belichick doesn't want to end his career just yet.
But why? What is there left to be done for the 71-year-old who has seemingly won and done everything there is to do as an NFL coach?
Aside from the yearly motivation of winning a Super Bowl, which would be the seventh for Belichick and maybe coincidentally match his former quarterback Tom Brady in terms of rings, he also has a chance to break the NFL wins record.
As things currently stand, Belichick needs 14 more wins (including playoffs) to catch Don Shula and 15 to surpass. Shula currently sits at 347, with Belichick right behind him at 333. Combining that chance at putting his name in the record books and going out on his terms could be another reason Belichick wants to continue coaching.
So, as the days of Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Brady all competing against each other ended, so will having Belichick, Carroll, and Saban on the sidelines. But Belichick seemingly doesn't want to go out on this note.
