Bill Belichick Rumors: The Coach’s Reaction to Not Getting Hired by the Falcons

After departing the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick was sufficiently interested by the Falcons to schedule two interviews with Atlanta.

But when Arthur Blank and company ultimately decided to go in a different way at head coach, Belichick apparently didn’t dwell on the verdict.

Belichick “wasn’t necessarily crestfallen” when the Falcons selected Raheem Morris to replace Arthur Smith, per ESPN NFL source Jeremy Fowler. The 71-year-old will likely have to wait until 2025 for his next chance to return to the sidelines because he did not apply for any head coaching positions outside of Foxboro, Massachusetts, in the recent weeks.

Fowler provided additional background on Belichick’s Atlanta candidacy, pointing out that the future Hall of Fame quarterback was allegedly unprepared to “bulldoze” the front office. Blank stated as much on Friday, revealing that during his conversation with team management on the coaching vacancy, the legendary Patriots player did not ask for total personnel authority.

Belichick, who appeared to have tunnel vision throughout his 24-year Patriots tenure, may benefit from not getting hired by the Falcons and spending a season out of the league. Taking a year off may let Belichick view the NFL in a new light and increase his appeal as a candidate the following season.

Insiders predict that Belichick will also become a highly sought-after asset. In fact, several of the most illustrious teams in the league may show real interest in hiring the coaching icon.

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It appears that Bill Belichick was not adamant about making all of the decisions for the Falcons, despite what is often believed.

Most people believed that for Belichick to be considered for an NFL coaching position, franchises would need to be prepared to hand up the team’s keys to the future Pro Football Hall of Famer. After all, Belichick had virtually unrestricted authority in New England for more than ten years, and part of his departure from the Patriots may have been his reluctance to give up any of that authority.

However, during the two Atlanta interviews, Belichick never asked for total authority. Arthur Blank, the team owner, stated as much at a Friday media conference.