Ex Patriots Brady & Belichick Reuniting On TV?
Brady and Belichick, together again? Maybe. Sort of.
It appears that for the first time in 50 years Bill Belichick won't be on an NFL sideline in 2024. But will he still appear on your TV?
Belichick has held a job in the NFL every season since starting as a special assistant with the Baltimore Colts in 1974. After a quarter-century of unprecedented success, he parted ways with the New England Patriots Jan. 11.
The future Hall of Fame coach received interest and two interviews from the Falcons, but now appears set to be benched as Atlanta instead hired Raheem Morris and only two openings remain (Washington Commanders, Seattle Seahawks). So ... now what?
CREDIT: DAVID J. PHILLIP/AP/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK
TV seems the most likely pivot for the six-time Super Bowl champion next season, with a possible return to coaching in 2025. With Tom Brady already under contract to become Fox's No. 1 analyst next season, networks are beginning to court Belichick.
Last week ESPN host Pat McAfee offered to "hire" him for his show. And NBC’s Mike Tirico was on Chicago radio last week championing how good Belichick would be on TV, based on his experience working with him during Super Bowl XL and from the NFL 100 All-Time Team series in 2019.
Said Tirico, "He will be awesome. He will be the guy who everyone shuts up and listens to. I promise you.”
What are Belichick's prospects at the major networks?
Fox - Just like Sean Payton, Belichick could use this as his bridge to getting back in the NFL as a coach. Former Patriots Brady, Julian Edelman (NFL Kickoff) and Rob Gronkowski (NFL Sunday) are already at the network. Studio analysts Jimmy Johnson and Terry Bradshaw missed multiple shows this season for business and/or health concerns, so perhaps Belichick steps in. Or, maybe Fox swings a home-run booth with play-by-play voice Kevin Burkhardt flanked by Brady and Belichick?
CBS - The network broadcasting next week's Super Bowl could be in for an extreme makeover. The contracts for James Brown, Phil Simms, Boomer Esiason and Bill Cowher are all up after the season, meaning a potential, badly needed shakeup of their annually lagging NFL Today studio show.
NBC - Sunday Night Football studio analyst Tony Dungy recently said that fans are becoming “disenchanted” with too much Taylor Swift coverage, which did not resonate in the league's front office. Belichick could slide in, where'd he be alongside former Patriot Devin McCourty. Tirico seems content with lead game analyst Cris Collinsworth, but maybe they add Belichick for a three-man booth?
ESPN - As a studio analyst on Sunday NFL Countdown, Belichick could sit in with former Patriots Tedy Bruschi and Randy Moss. Most delicious, the network could have him replace one of his biggest all-time critics ... former Jets coach Rex Ryan.
Amazon - With the supposedly younger, hipper network (and NBC) benching Al Michaels during the playoffs, it's difficult to envision it hiring another football "old soul" in Belichick.
