Breer: Why the Jaguars could be the ideal landing spot for Belichick originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
After failing to land a head coaching job this offseason, Bill Belichick can sit back and wait for an interesting opportunity to arise during or after the 2024 season.
The six-time Super Bowl champion should be at the top of the list of potential replacements for teams with head coaches on the hot seat. Despite speculation that Belichick will end up in the NFC East, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer believes a return to the AFC with the struggling Jacksonville Jaguars would be an ideal landing spot for the former New England Patriots head coach.
“I look at where they are now. Last year they finished 1-5, now they’re 0-3, so they’re 1-8 in their last nine games,” Breer said of the Jaguars on Tuesday. Early edition. “If you look at their schedule, it’s set up so that they play the Texans and the Colts and then go to England. They could be 0-5 going to England if they lose to the Texans and the Colts. They play the Bears and the Patriots in England.
“Depending on what (Belichick) thinks about Trevor Lawrence, you’ve got the quarterback there. It’s convenient to have one of his homes in South Florida. And Shad Khan is, to some extent, an absentee owner. He’s not there a lot. So (Belichick) could run the show there. He has a relationship with Shad’s son, Tony.”
According to Breer, the Jaguars leadership has taken Belichick’s advice to heart in the past and it’s likely they want to give him the control over the organization he desires.
“I think this is a detail that maybe not a lot of people know. When they hired Doug Marrone in 2017, they did it largely on the advice of Bill Belichick,” Breer said. “The Khans heard from Bill Belichick that they should hire Marrone, so Bill clearly has the owner’s ear there as well.
“So I certainly think it’s a place where Bill, if he appreciated the football situation, would say something like, ‘Can I have control? Are they going to do it my way? Can I bring in my own general manager? Is there a quarterback?’ I think it’s a nice setting.”
While the Jags could be a perfect fit for Belichick, replacing Doug Pederson midseason if Jacksonville’s struggles continue doesn’t seem likely. NBC Sports Boston’s Patriots insider Phil Perry recently explained on Early Edition why Belichick is unlikely to return as coach in 2024.
That said, it would be hard to turn down Jacksonville if it offered him the head coaching job in 2025. The Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants and Chicago Bears are also among the potential prospects that could land Belichick this offseason, or even sooner.
Until then, Belichick’s various media appearances will keep him busy. The 72-year-old currently works as a football analyst for the Pat McAfee Show, ManningCastare COACH podcast, and the Let’s go! podcasting.
