New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is being linked with another NFL team following a major development that has taken place this week.
Belichick’s time in New England could be coming to an end, with his days believed to be numbered amid what has been another disastrous campaign.
The Pats are 2-9 and don’t look to have any solutions offensively, while owner Robert Kraft thought to be running out of patience. Now that another vacancy has been opened up in Carolina, Belichick is rumored to be a potential candidate.
The Los Angeles Chargers and Washington Commanders are thought to be the favorites to appoint Belichick as their head coach as the former’s owner, Dean Spanos, is expected to fire Brandon Staley if they lose to the Pats on Sunday. New Commanders owner Josh Harris is also expected to part ways with Ron Rivera at the end of the season.
According to the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin, the Panthers are also worth keeping an eye on.
“This isn’t just my opinion; this is based on conversations with league sources who know the coaching market and know Belichick. Keep a close eye on Belichick and Carolina,” he writes.
“Belichick, despite turning 72 next April, clearly wants to keep coaching. Carolina would be a good spot to finish out his career and break Don Shula’s record (Belichick is 16 wins from tying the overall record of 347, and 28 from the regular-season record of 328).
“Carolina is a quiet market with a small media scene that Belichick could easily handle. He’d be far away from the Patriots in the NFC South, and wouldn’t have to face them until 2025. His arrival would likely be welcomed by Panthers fans, who are tired of watching losing teams led by nameless, faceless coaches.”
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Volin also pointed out that, while Panthers owner David Tepper is a bit too hands-on as an owner, he would be easier to work with when compared to Spanos, who is considered to be frugal, or Harris, who is inexperienced. Tepper is also the third-richest owner in the NFL, with a net worth of $20.6 billion.
Belichick, though, has rubbished the rumors claiming he will leave the Patriots at the end of the season.
“Yeah, that’s ridiculous,” he said on WEEI’s The Greg Hill Show‘.
“Just trying to do the best job I can right now,” Belichick said. “Obviously, I need to do better…I don’t worry about what everybody else is saying. I’ve heard good, I’ve heard bad. I don’t really care.”
