“He has only himself to blame, thanks to the bizarre distractions he created in North Carolina over the past year and his open hostility toward his long-time employer in New England.”
The Buffalo Bills are actively seeking a new head coach after parting ways with Sean McDermott following a nine-year tenure. As the organization explores various options for a coach who can elevate their roster led by star quarterback Josh Allen, fans and analysts alike wonder if they might consider a notable name: Bill Belichick.
Despite Belichick’s remarkable success as a six-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, reports indicate that the Bills are unlikely to pursue him as a candidate. According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, Belichick is seen as “radioactive” by many NFL teams currently seeking a head coach.
Florio’s analysis suggests that Belichick’s tenure at the University of North Carolina might have marred his reputation. For instance, he has created distractions during his time there and exhibited open hostility toward the Patriots, his former employer. Such behavior raises concerns among potential suitors.
“Any NFL owner who would be inclined to hire Belichick would have to assume that, eventually, some of that same venom will be directed to his next former team,” Florio wrote. These comments echo the sentiment shared by many who closely follow the NFL coaching carousel.
Interest in Belichick since he left the Patriots after the 2023 season has been surprisingly limited. Although he engaged in several formal interviews with the Atlanta Falcons in January 2024, the team ultimately hired Raheem Morris instead.
Interestingly, former Jets and Bills head coach Rex Ryan recently suggested that Belichick should still be considered a viable candidate for the Bills’ job. “If you can get the greatest coach in the history of our game, and everybody can say it’s passed him by because he doesn’t have Tom Brady, he’s got a different guy if you get him this [role],” Ryan remarked on ESPN’s “Get Up.”
Despite the speculation, Belichick himself seems to be focusing on his current responsibilities at UNC. After a challenging first season where he secured only four wins, he expressed optimism for the future during an appearance on ESPN’s “College GameDay.”
“It was great, working with a lot of young players, and I saw a lot of improvement both on and off the field,” he said. “We didn’t really have a recruiting class last year. A lot of new players this year, we’re gonna be in much better shape in terms of having some continuity and building forward through spring ball.”
