The Bill Belichick-Falcons partnership prospects are heating up. Belichick arrived in Atlanta on Thursday night ahead of his second interview, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports, and is now viewed as the top candidate for this job.
After Belichick’s first interview consisted of a one-on-one meeting with Arthur Blank, he is set to meet with other Falcons higher-ups. Belichick began his second interview with dinner Thursday, Russini adds, and CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson notes this process — Belichick’s first time on a coaching carousel in 24 years — continues to trend in a positive direction. Though, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones cautions this is not yet a done deal.
Blank, CEO Rich McKay, GM Terry Fontenot and team president Greg Beadles will be part of this second interview, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s D. Orlando Ledbetter. This meeting will double as a chance for Belichick to evaluate the Falcons as a fit, as questions will be warranted on his part. This marks Belichick’s first meeting in Atlanta, with Jones adding the interview with Blank took place on the owner’s yacht near the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Belichick held final personnel say throughout his Patriots run. While he laps Fontenot in terms of experience, the presences of the fourth-year GM and McKay — a former Falcons GM who moved up the chain in the late 2000s — create some uncertainty as to what the legendary head coach’s role would be. Belichick reaching a comfort level with McKay, a former Super Bowl-winning Buccaneers GM, will be critical here, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes. Doubt about Belichick wanting to keep the McKay-Fontenot status quo in place has emerged, per Jones. But Blank would need to naturally approve of any major front office restructuring.
One source has informed Jones that Blank “desperately” wants Belichick as his next coach and that it would be on the latter to accept the job. Even with Jones indicating the Falcons want to complete a thorough search, it would not surprise to learn of Belichick receiving an offer. The Falcons have also interviewed Jim Harbaugh and are preparing to meet with their former interim HC, Raheem Morris, on Saturday. But the team is believed to be prioritizing experience to fill its latest HC vacancy. Blank has never hired anyone with previous NFL HC experience to lead his team, and Belichick is arguably the greatest coach in league history.
While Belichick issues on the GM side recurred in New England — particularly after Tom Brady‘s 2020 exit — he continued to give the Patriots top-shelf work on the defensive side of the ball. Sixteen of New England’s Brady-era teams finished with a top-10 scoring defense, and the Pats fared well down the stretch despite losing Matt Judon and Christian Gonzalez early this season. But how the Falcons would plan on structuring their front office around Belichick would double as one of this offseason’s most interesting questions. The team made a point to say Blank and McKay are leading the HC search, with Fontenot offering input. McKay soon backtracked by indicating the GM has not seen his standing diminished after three straight 7-10 seasons.
The prospect of Belichick, 72 in April, wanting familiar personnel staffers would seemingly be in play; Josh McDaniels, Matt Patricia and Joe Judge have already been rumored staff targets if Belichick does indeed become the next Falcons HC. No team has ever hired a coach older than 66 (Bruce Arians, 2019). Will the Falcons buck that trend and become the team that gives Belichick the chance to break Don Shula‘s record? The 29-year HC veteran is 14 wins away.
Too bad BB sucks without Tom Brady
Come home the Giants need you.
Wait until you get a load of J. Mayo at the helm. He won’t even be able to keep his players from putting their drinks on the speakers or tapping on the aquarium glass.
Blank must be offering way more money than everyone else.
BB doesn’t seem to be looking anywhere else and they got Harbaugh to interview when there appear to be many better jobs available to him.
What are those better jobs? This is the best roster with an opening.
Chargers for one.
Significantly better QB situation.
Chargers cap situation is one of the worst in the league. They will have to jettison some vets, re-structure some others, and start playing with low cost fill-ins. The worst part about them is the top 6-8 cap hits are very important pieces and it will hurt if they have to start letting them go.
Falcons cap situation, age, and younger talent are all significantly better. The only major problems are QB and pass rushers. It’s a much easier fix, as there will be quite a few mid-tier vet QB’s available that won’t need max money and they should have their pick of an edge rusher in the draft.
Now, if they go with someone other than Belichick, they could be selling these other candidates on possibly bundling some picks to move up in the draft to get one of the top three, or maybe go DE in first and try to move back up into late first to get one of the second tier of QB’s.
All I know is that the Falcons are perceived to be one of, if not the best, opportunities this off-season for HC candidates.
Teams restructure contracts all the time to create cap room that’s nothing new.
Lindsey is retiring
Mike Williams takes a pay cut or he’s let go with a smaller dead cap hit about 20 mill less
So their cap room situation isn’t as gruesome as you seem to think
The new coach and gm are also walking into premium draft position at 6 overall.
It’s much easier to fill out a roster around a franchise qb than it is to find a franchise qb.
A mid tier qb isn’t going to make Atlanta a Super Bowl contender and at 9 overall Atlanta is a bit out of reach of Williams Maye and possibly Daniels. Many mocks have them taking JJ McCarthy which good luck.
You mean the .500 QB who has helped get his first two coaches fired? The rest of their roster is terrible and they’re in salary cap hell. Sounds like a dream job. Stop listening to hot take pundits on TV for what you think about football. Just watch the games.
I stopped reading after you said .500 qb.
Does Herbert play defense or special teams?
Special teams disasters got Anthony Lynn canned. Mistakes on kicking and punting were abundant
Defense got Staley canned. Constantly ranking near bottom of the league does that.
Look. It’s ok if you don’t know what you’re talking about. But a real football fan would know these things.
Do you think any great QB loses a 27-0 lead in a playoff game? You almost have to try to do that. Defense is only one part of the equation, but game management by the QB is part of their job. He sucks at it. He sucks at making critical mistakes in critical moments. His scoring offenses that he touches the ball every down on as the QB have been mostly average at best. You bring up their terrible defense, but how does the 13th, 18th, 21st, and 21st scoring offenses absolve him of the record? It’s the definition of average, but you’re talking about he’s a great young QB.
Chargers lost the playoff game cause the kicker missed a fg otherwise they would have won
The chargers defense blew the lead. Not Herbert. He doesn’t play defense.
Again. If you don’t know what you’re talking about that’s fine but I’d quit while you’re ahead man. You’re doing yourself no favors in this discussion and quite frankly embarrassing yourself.
First with the “wins and losses are all QBs fault” and “blowing a lead is QBs fault”
Kicker missed a fg. Chargers would have won 33-31. You do know Justin Herbert doesn’t kick field goals right?
Offense scored 30 points an offense led by……Justin Herbert
The defense gave up 31 points led by……not Justin Herbert. He was standing on the side lines.
13th scoring offense at 23 points a game in 2022
5th in scoring offense at 28 per game in 2021
18th in scoring offense in 2020 at 24 points a game
He’s averaged 25+ points a game prior to 2023.
See rankings tell you very little which it’s weird you left out how much they scored. Almost like it hurts your poor argument.
And you’re counting 2023 offense where Easton Stick played the last 4 games. But sure that doesn’t impact the scoring numbers at all.
You’re really bad at this dude.
“ It’s the definition of average, but you’re talking about he’s a great young QB.”
2023 finished 5th in total QBR
2022 finished 11th in total QBR
2021 finished 3rd in total QBR
2022 finished 13th in total QBR
Actual stats that judge him based on his play at qb say you have no idea wtf you’re talking about, which has become quite apparent and blatantly obvious.
I wouldn’t bother responding you’re just gonna keep embarrassing yourself.
No. The roster is pretty good, and you have three certified dumpster fires in two of the other three cities in the division while Tampa isn’t great. Like let’s be real. You taking Todd Bowles or Dennis Allen over Belichick or Harbaugh if the rosters are even? No one is.
Roster means nothing without a QB
Denver broncos are a prime example of that.
But sure continue to play without a franchise qb. Falcons won’t get far.
Denver’s roster wasn’t that great, which some of us tried to tell you this time last year. Sort of like this Charger narrative right now. Atlanta actually has good young players, a lot of them.
Are Atlanta fans excited about this?
Not reallly. I have 5 guys infront of him I’d rather like to take a shot on, just to name two, Lions OC Ben Johnson or Jim Harbaugh. But Bill could improve and actuallly help too
I love that this is a question.
Im not being snarky – there is legit question about how he is viewed.
The fact that it is asked so so much.
It doesn’t have to mean anything, but I don’t think fans view it as a “great” thing.
Of course, once it happens fans will get onboard. I once talked myself into believing Rex Ryan was a good hire.
But Bill carries a much better resume, and I love that fans at least have a degree of skepticism.
We’ve been burnt and seasoned with endless mediocrity. I’m hesitant with anyone hired if they’re not Jim Harbaugh. He has a great track record and gets the most out of his guys especially young men and falcons are a very young team. I won’t be mad at Bill either. Legendary coach and football genius. I just want wins and a franchise QB
I’m a Saints fan, so I don’t have strong opinions on the Falcons coaching search. I am curious, however, why you’re so strongly in support of Harbaugh? I understand he’s won, but those wins have also come with a tremendous amount of baggage. He also has a history of wearing on players and others around him. That isn’t as big of a deal in college, where you have players for just a few seasons- but in the pros? I guess I’m just curious why his drawbacks aren’t a concern for some.
He’s a winning coach. That’s all that matters
not impressed with Michigan offense over the Harbaugh years… too much, run, run. run… best to get a Ben Johnson who can double as the OC… it is all offense these days… look at low Tomlin and the Steelers and the Browns have been spinning their wheels on defense. Ravens finally opening it up a bit and they are fun to watch finally.
I’d take anything over Arthur smith.
He doesn’t excite many of the Falcons’ fanbase.
Yeah Jim is more exciting
AND the winner of the MOST EXCITED FALCON FAN contest is….
link to thesportsontap.com
Not me. I respect the guy, but I feel like his is just chasing the wins total and will be gone at the end of of it. That should mean two, maybe three years max, then they have to find another HC. Not an ideal situation.
I would rather they go with Harbaugh, Johnson, EB, Morris, Glynn or a few of the other folks. Not necessarily ion that order. I should mention that I think Harbaugh will likely have them forfeiting draft picks within a couple of years. I greatly respect BB, and the hiring won’t really bother me too much, but I just don’t think it is the correct long term move for the Falcons.
To put it simple….Nope
Jim Harbaugh isn’t going to the Falcons, they’ll be lucky to get BB or Vrabel, either of those hires is making a big statement, and good for them
Everyone forget that Atlanta was New England South once upon a time with Dimitroff and Pioli? So Blank won’t have to be sold. He probably already believes in their methods.
BB showed what he can do in charge of a team with no QB, so now a team that has no QB is all in on bringing him in. What do they expect to happen here?
In fairness, NE had roster holes everywhere. You can blame some of that on BB, but QB wasn’t even their top problem. That team probably has the worst overall talent in the league right now.
You blame 100% on Bill. He had complete control of the roster for nearly 20 years. Whiffed on multiple draft & FA classes year in year out.
I don’t believe that. The Krafts are way more involved than their public facing persona intimates. I know they pushed for Mac Jones.
Mac Jones lost faith in BB and Pats offense to the point he was reaching out to his college coaches at Alabama for advice. Sounds like a real recipe for success to give BB another young QB.
Mac Jones was a backup level talent coming out of college. It doesn’t matter who coaches him. Belichick hid him his first year, but that becomes harder to do the longer you’re in the league, not to mention the eroded offensive talent that they had.
Unless Atlanta does something wild to get to the top of the draft I can’t see this working out given their motley collection of quarterbacks. The list of 2024 free agent QBs doesn’t look too good either, but one or two of them are at least an improvement over Ridder/Heinicke.
Mayfield, Minshew, Dobbs, Tannehill, Cousins, Flacco all played relatively significant snap counts this past season.
Impossible to tell who will be good/bad again from this group or others.