Buckle up, Atlanta Falcons fans, because your coaching carousel might just be coming to a dizzying, but thrilling halt. Bill Belichick, the gridiron strategist who turned the New England Patriots into a dynasty, is apparently eyeing the Falcons' head coach spot with something like keen interest, just days after he and the Pats decided to call it quits. This fascinating tidbit of sports gossip comes care of ESPN insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano.
Now, before we all get carried away imagining Belichick donning the Falcons red and black, it's worth noting that the Falcons are still courting other candidates, as they're rumored to comb through the coaching talent pool. Yet, in a report acquired by FOX5 Atlanta, the Falcons and their potential next head coach have expressed what's called "mutual interest" — a courtship that could lead Belichick to become Atlanta's 19th head coach in franchise history, after Arthur Smith was shown the door last week.
As a coach who can boast of six Super Bowl rings, Belichick certainly doesn't need to prove anything to anyone at this point. Yet, ESPN's Fowler hinted at something intriguing. He reported on SportsCenter saying, "I was told to focus on talented, yet underachieving teams because that's really his wheelhouse. So, Atlanta comes to mind, they're probably a quarterback away." Per Fowler's insights, it seems the Falcons could offer just the right mix of challenge and potential for the storied coach. But let's not forget about the Los Angeles Chargers who, along with a few other teams, are also eyeing Belichick's wizardry, according to the same ESPN report.
And talk about a plot twist. If Belichick does skip on over to Atlanta, he would bring a pedigree and resume that's anything but familiar to Falcons owner Arthur Blank's typical playbook. Blank, since buying the team in 2002, has predominantly favored hiring NFL greenhorns for the top coaching gig. Ditching that approach could be the shake-up the Falcons need, with Belichick's renown for defensive craftsmanship and history of winning likely to add some sorely needed stability to the team.
However, the Falcons' roster isn't without its woes, most notably their quarterback dilemma. After Desmond Ridder's less-than-stellar performance last season, the team's QB spot is ripe for an upgrade. It's a concern Belichick would have to tackle head-on if he decides to land in Atlanta. Despite this, hiring a figure of his stature would, no contest, inject instant credibility into the franchise. As put by a Bleacher Report, "But hiring Belichick gives the Falcons instant credibility because of his long track record of success and he's still capable of crafting a strong defensive game plan on a week-to-week basis."
