The Falcons are closing in on one of the highest-profile coaching hires in NFL history. Arthur Blank has never hired a head coach who had previously held the position, but the upcoming second interview this weekend could lead to an agreement.
Bill Belichick‘s upcoming meeting with a Falcons executive committee is expected to be a discussion about how a potential partnership would work, rather than a typical interview, according to Mark Maske of the Washington Post. There is league buzz indicating that the six-time Super Bowl winner could end up in Georgia.
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Despite recent playoff losses for Dallas and Philadelphia, the Falcons are still heavily pursuing Belichick. Some sources believe that the Cowboys and Eagles also showed interest in Belichick. However, the Cowboys have announced that they are retaining their current head coach, and the Eagles are considering retooling their staff, potentially for another season under their current head coach. Belichick has only met with the Falcons so far.
For the NFC East teams to fire coaches as accomplished as the current ones, they would need to be confident in their ability to lure a better coach. There is also speculation that Belichick may be finished with big-market media and that a move to Atlanta would bring a change of pace. While the Falcons have operated as a low-key NFL team in recent years, Belichick’s presence would undoubtedly bring more attention.
If Belichick does join the Falcons, it would be a significant upgrade, especially on the defensive side. However, the issue of personnel power would become more complicated. Belichick has excelled in this area for years but has struggled recently. It would be interesting to see how this dynamic would work with the Falcons.
There is also speculation that if Belichick becomes the head coach of the Falcons, he would likely reunite with several former assistants, including Josh McDaniels, Joe Judge, and Matt Patricia. It is believed that Belichick’s sons, Steve and Brian, could also stay in New England under Jerod Mayo, but the assistants would likely be wanted in Atlanta as well.
Despite challenges and potential complications, the Falcons are willing to consider a setup similar to the Patriot Way. It would be a different endeavor, as Belichick would be the architect rather than a lieutenant tasked with replicating his approach.
The Falcons have interviewed six other candidates and are set to meet with Rams DC Raheem Morris on Saturday. However, the Belichick buzz has overshadowed the search, and the Falcons may be days away from offering Belichick the opportunity to break Shula’s all-time win record.