Since before Arthur Smith was even fired, the Falcons have been tied to Bill Belichick, and that momentum has only gained steam since Smith was fired in Atlanta and Belichick parted ways with New England. The two parties have already met twice, sparking some, including myself, to believe the Falcons hiring Bill Belichick was very close to becoming a reality.
Well respected NFL insider Josina Anderson for CBS Sports even went as far as to say she expects Bill Belichick to be named the head coach of the Falcons
Barring a snag in negotiations or a future development (still have to get a signature), I’m expecting Bill Belichick to become the next head coach of the NFC South* Atlanta Falcons. His previous rapport with #Falcons CEO Rich McKay creates comfort he can’t mimic in any other… https://t.co/lnVHs88mHK
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) January 18, 2024
I was also told by a source that Bill Belichick should be viewed as the frontrunner for the job, and that same source only emphasized those sentiments prior to this past weekend.
However, some aren’t as convinced that he should even be viewed as the favorite. Josh Kendall of The Athletic recently reported that he’s hearing it is far from a done deal, and the narrative that it is “Belichick or bust” is inaccurate.
“At the very least, the Belichick candidacy has lost momentum in the past week, with multiple league sources telling The Athletic that assuming it’s “Belichick or bust” is inaccurate,” Kendall writes.
Until there’s pen to paper, nothing is official. For the Falcons’ sake, I hope they are giving everyone they interview a legitimate opportunity to sell themselves for the job. They would be doing a disservice to the entire organization and their fans if they didn’t. However, when have the Falcons under Arthur Blank been known for doing things the right way?
From the jump, Blank has appeared enamored with the idea of Bill Belichick bringing The Patriot Way down south to Atlanta in hopes of leading the team to its first Super Bowl. It may not be a done deal, but Blank is ultimately going to be the one calling the shots on this decision. A candidate would have to really impress him to change his mind; plus, they would also have to be interested in taking the job over any of the other openings that may have interest.
I also question the idea that there’s been momentum lost between the Falcons and Belichick. There has been little reported about what took place during that second interview. Only the people inside the room seem to truly know. These latest rounds of interviews don’t sway me one way or the other. They were always going to happen because it is the right way to go about business. It doesn’t mean Belichick shouldn’t still be viewed as the frontrunner to become the next head coach of the Falcons.
The good news is the Falcons appear to have plenty of options. Bill Belichick is far from my favorite choice, but Atlanta could do a lot worse. So, if for whatever reason the two sides do not come to an agreement, there appear to be plenty of worthy candidates eager to help the Falcons get over the hump in the future.
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Photo: Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire
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