New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick announces he is leaving the team during a press conference at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on January 11, 2024. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP)

More details have emerged regarding the most stunning development of the 2024 NFL head coach hiring cycle Bill Belichick getting snubbed league-wide.

It was assumed by many that the former New England Patriots head coach would quickly pick up a new HC position following his departure from Foxborough last month. But Belichick only interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons, who instead hired Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris for the HC position.

 

According to The Athletic’s Jeff Howe, the most accomplished head coach in NFL history was passed over in this year’s coaching cycle for three key reasons. Howe spoke to multiple league sources who outlined the three main factors:
“Three primary reasons were echoed by numerous league sources: Belichick’s mishandling of the Patriots’ quarterback situation in recent years, his desire to maintain total control of football operations and a growing concern over the coach’s ability to relate to this generation of players.

At quarterback, people around the league still don’t understand how Belichick could let Tom Brady leave in free agency, but the lack of a succession plan was nearly as perplexing. Belichick went the budget route with Cam Newton in 2020 and drafted Mac Jones in the first round in 2021 but failed to develop him by virtually every measurable degree.”
Additionally, Howe’s report stated that Belichick’s loyalty to certain coaches and executives was a “red flag” for teams. An example mentioned was when Belichick brought back former defensive coordinator Matt Patricia to serve as the offensive play-caller in 2022.

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On top of that, folks around the league have heard stories about Belichick overruling others for important draft decisions. And Belichick’s spotty draft history dating back to 2014 certainly doesn’t help his case to be a key difference-maker in player personnel decisions.

So with that, the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach will at least start out the 2024 season without a coaching position.

Now, it’s obviously possible that a team will look to hire Belichick as an advisor or as a coach mid-season in 2024. But it’s more likely that he’ll sit out the year and eye his next head coaching position next year.