After six Super Bowl wins and 266 regular-season victories over 24 years with the Patriots, Bill Belichick and the Patriots officially parted ways after the 2023 season.
New England finished 4-13 this year, the worst ever with Belichick and only the second time ever having fewer than seven wins since he took over, with the other instance being his first season in 2000.
New England's roster was perhaps the worst in the league this year, and there isn't a clear path to success with them in the next few years. Where will Belichick go next? Who will he be coaching in 2024 and beyond?
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Best Landing Spots For Bill Belichick
Atlanta Falcons
Currently, the odds-on favorite for Belichick, the Atlanta Falcons, fired Arthur Smith after going 7-10. While the quarterback situation isn't ideal at the moment, the roster has a plethora of talent everywhere else. From the playmaking trio of Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts to the strong secondary pieces like Jessie Bates and A.J. Terrell, who provide a solid foundation to build upon.
The biggest question is whether this can be a good fit, and it hinges on finding, at the very minimum, average quarterback play. Justin Fields could be an option if the Bears go quarterback at one, but they could also look to move up or take a quarterback at number eight in the draft. Atlanta doesn't have a ton of cap space at the moment, but they are in the positive and could look to create more with some restructures. With good roster moves and the hiring of Belichick, the Falcons could easily become the favorites in the weak NFC South.
Los Angeles Chargers
At first glance, many would think the Chargers are the most ideal spot for any coach this offseason. They have their long-term quarterback answer in Justin Herbert and top pass rush talent in Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa, along with other key players like Derwin James, Rashawn Slater, and Keenan Allen. However, they are $40 million over the cap, and most of the roster is aging fast. Even with the current roster, the defense has been in the bottom 10 in DVOA every year under Brandon Staley, despite him being a defensive specialist.
If they could find a way to preserve most of their roster while getting in the green in cap space, the Chargers could be right back in the mix in the AFC next year. They will need to find rookies who can make a high impact within two years, along with managing the contracts of aging, expensive veterans. Herbert is undoubtedly the best quarterback on a team without a coach, but the Chargers really need to hit on some inexpensive players this offseason to be in the title mix.
Dallas Cowboys
Easily the best spot for Belichick, the Cowboys would be a perfect match if they decide to move on from Mike McCarthy. Dallas has elite talent everywhere, from the offensive line to CeeDee Lamb to their pass rush and secondary. Dak Prescott put together an MVP-level regular season before collapsing in the playoffs. There isn't a roster closer to a Super Bowl than the Cowboys, but they obviously would have to move on from McCarthy to pursue Belichick.
The biggest potential issue with this move is how the Cowboys run their franchise. Belichick is used to having a lot of control, and we all know who runs the show in Dallas. While Belichick and Jerry Jones have said they have a lot of respect for one another, could they share the power to have a successful working relationship? Belichick reportedly wants to coach "talented, underachieving teams," and nobody fits that bill better than the Cowboys over the last few decades.
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