The Atlanta Falcons’ executives have made their feelings about Bill Belichick known. He’s the top candidate for the Falcons’ vacant head coaching position, but while owner Arthur Blank is interested in the six-time Super Bowl winner, there appear to be some reservations in the front office.
After an incredible 24 seasons coaching the New England Patriots, Belichick and the team parted ways following a difficult 2023 season. The renowned head coach led the Patriots from a losing record to six Super Bowl titles, cementing their place as one of the best teams in North American sports history, alongside quarterback Tom Brady and owner Robert Kraft.
When Brady transferred to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, the Patriots struggled, and Belichick resigned as head coach and acting general manager after the club finished 4-13. This implies that one of football’s greatest thinkers is now accessible, and teams with open positions are taking notice.
Arthur Smith was let go by the Falcons following a 7-10 regular season in which they finished third in the NFC South and missed the playoffs once again. Following their own poor season, the Falcons had interviewed Belichick twice.
The Falcons have some promising young players on the roster, including Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and newcomer Bijan Robinson. However, they struggled to shine in 2023. The club also has several good defenders who, with the correct leadership, may form a formidable unit.
However, sports celebrity Bill Simmons believes there are some in the Falcons’ front office who do not want six-time Super Bowl champion Belichick in charge. While owner Arthur Blank would like to see the 71-year-old take over, there may be some opposition within the franchise, posing a significant impediment to Belichick’s speedy return to the league.
“The Atlanta thing, there’s a lot of buzz going around right now about the Atlanta job, that the executives are there are trying – and I’ve heard this, I’m telling you from so many different people – basically Arthur Blank wants to hire Bill Belichick, and all the front office people in Atlanta don’t want to hire Belichick because it’s like any big company – sport franchises are like microcosms of all big companies,” Simmons said on the podcast.
“The people who run the franchise just want to keep their jobs; they are in job preservation mode, so they say, ‘Maybe we hire Raheem Morris.'” Yeah, recruit Raheem Morris; he’s young, and you’ll have your job for another five years.
The statement read: “You bring in Belichick – you think Belichick will listen to like [John] McKay’s kid… or [general manager Terry] Fontenot. “He’ll say, ‘I’m going to do my own thing.'”
