Bill Belichick will be the next head coach of the Atlanta Falcons next season, according to a report from NFL on CBS insider Josina Anderson.
This would mark an all-time coup for owner Arthur Blank’s Falcons, as during his quarter-century as the head coach of the New England Patriots, Belichick created a legacy as the greatest coach of his era, with a record of 266-121 wit six Super Bowl titles.
Belichick, 71, parted ways with the Patriots earlier this month and has met with the Falcons twice as Blank apparently works to close a deal that Anderson says can be “expected barring a snag in negotiations.”
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Earlier this week, Belichick apparently had an initial meeting with Blank aboard the billionaire’s $180 million yacht off the coast of Antigua. That went well enough to lead to a second meeting in which it can be presumed Belichick, Blank and other team leaders – including team CEO Rich McKay, with whom Anderson reports Belichick has “rapport” – are laying out an organizational plan.
Owner Arthur Blank is very skilled at being convincing and selling the benefits of coming to Atlanta,” Anderson reported.
Related: Falcons to Hire Belichick, Sign Kirk Cousins in Free Agency?
We have reported in this space that Belichick can be expected to build a coaching staff full of long-time associates. Matt Patricia and Joe Judge, both former NFL head coaches, are among those who figure to be on his list.
About those “snags”: Bogus national reports connected Belichick to the Dallas Cowboys, who are retaining Mike McCarthy. The status of Nick Sirianni in Philadephia may bear watching.
As we enter the 2024 season, Belichick has his 333 wins, putting him just 15 wins away from breaking Don Shula’s record of 347 all-time victories for a head coach.
That certainly matters to Belichick. What matters in Atlanta? A turnaround of a program into a playoff team.
