Is the NFL OUT on Belichick?

The Falcons in a stunner have hired Raheem Morris as their head coach. The Morris' hire comes after an extensive search that featured 14 candidates, including former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel and former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, who was hired Wednesday by the Los Angeles Chargers. Morris was Atlanta's interim coach for 11 games in 2020 after the club fired Dan Quinn midway through the season. Morris went 4-7 with that team but was not given the full-time job. Instead, the club hired Arthur Smith.

With Morris signing in Atlanta and Dave Canelas going to Carolina, only Seattle and Washington are the two teams with head coaching vacancies. Unless another team makes a move or one of the coaches playing on championship weekend retires or moves on. Belichick was the favorite to land with the Falcons, who did two interviews and was the only team he has reportedly met with. After the Morris hire, the odds have shifted that Belichick will not be a head coach on an NFL team next season.

It's hard to believe that a team is not interested in the future hall of fame coach. There are many layers to this, does the league not think he can coach anymore? Are teams respecting Robert Kraft by not hiring Belichick? Was there an agreement between Kraft and Belichick that he would still get paid but won't coach anywhere in 2024? Are teams scared off by him wanting control and bringing in his own staff? Belichick turns 72 years old when the season will begin, some teams could be concerned about his long term commitment. Either way. It's hard to imagine Belichick not on the sideline this season chasing the all time wins record. It's even harder for him to do so if he takes the season off.

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