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Adam Schefter, senior editor at ESPN
Even though he has built his own media empire, which even includes opening an “Instaface” account, Bill Belichick is still a coach at heart.
Those who know Belichick best say that despite his growing media resume, the six-time Super Bowl winner would still like to return to coaching in 2025, but only in the right situations and with good jobs.
According to sources, Belichick is expected to be selective about whether and when he returns to the bench.
Belichick had several opportunities to join various teams as a defensive coordinator or in some sort of distinguished assistant role last season. Not only did the San Francisco 49ers consider Belichick for their vacant defensive coordinator position, as head coach Kyle Shanahan said this summer, but so did the Los Angeles Rams, according to league sources.
The Rams had a vacant defensive coordinator position after Raheem Morris left the team to become head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, and one of the names on Los Angeles’ wish list was Belichick, who preferred to continue his career elsewhere this season.
Now, for the first time in nearly a quarter century, Belichick will not be on the Patriots’ side when New England opens the season against the Bengals in Cincinnati on Sunday. The last time the Patriots were not coached by Belichick, their current head coach Jerod Mayo was 13 years old.
Belichick is instead preparing for Monday night’s “ManningCast,” where he plans to appear among other media projects. Belichick also serves as a strategic advisor to the 33rd Team, a media and technology company that focuses on football analytics, and appears once a week on “The Pat McAfee Show.” He will do a weekly show with Peyton Manning on Fridays analyzing upcoming “Monday Night Football” games, and he serves as an analyst on “Inside the NFL.” He will also have a football show on YouTube TV.
Sources say Belichick is unlikely to join Threads, as he did on Instagram last week, but the man who rarely seemed to enjoy interacting with the media has become one of the more prominent figures there.
But all of this could be short-lived. Belichick would still like to return as a head coach in 2025 if the right opportunity presents itself. Belichick’s media projects will allow him to keep a close eye on the league, follow its players, and prepare to coach again.
Belichick and the Patriots parted ways after the 2023 season, ending his 24-year stay with the franchise he led to six Super Bowl titles. His 296 wins with the Patriots (including playoffs) are the second-most by a franchise in NFL history, trailing only George Halas (324 with the Chicago Bears). His 333 wins as a coach (including playoffs) are the second-most all-time behind Don Shula (347).
Belichick, 72, was nominated for a Sports Emmy for outstanding studio analyst for his work on the 2019 NFL Films series “NFL 100 All-Time Team,” which aired on NFL Network.
