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Several NFL teams reportedly inquired about whether six-time Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick would reconsider his move to college football, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported on Wednesday (January 8).
Las Vegas Raiders minority owner Tom Brady, who played quarterback for Belichick for 20 seasons with the New England Patriots, had reportedly been in contact with his former coach prior to the Raiders' firing former head coach Antonio Pierce on Tuesday (January 7). Pelissero reported that at least one other team has continued to check on Belichick's status.
There are currently six teams -- the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars and Patriots -- with head coaching vacancies, while the Dallas Cowboys have yet to decide on whether to extend Mike McCarthy prior to their January 14 deadline.
"Bill Belichick's UNC contract includes a $10 million buyout if he leaves prior to June 1, 2025, though it's not entirely clear whether it would apply if he returns to the NFL in the coming weeks. Six NFL HC jobs are open: #Jets, #Saints, #Bears, #Patriots, #Jaguars and #Raiders," Pelissero wrote on his X account.
Last month, the Athletic senior college football writer Chris Vannini reported that Belichick's five-year, $50 million deal with UNC had a $10 million buyout should he decide to leave, but only through June 1, 2025, at which point it will decrease to $1 million. Belichick, who interviewed for the Atlanta Falcons' vacancy last year after 24 seasons with the Patriots, is the third-winningest coach in NFL history and one of seven NFL head coaches to have spent more than 20 years with one franchise following George Halas (40) of the Chicago Bears, Curly Lambeau (29) of the Green Bay Packers, Tom Landry (29) of the Dallas Cowboys, Don Shula (26) of the Miami Dolphins, Steven Owen (24) of the New York Giants and Chuck Noll of the Pittsburgh Steelers, all of whom have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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