Bill Belichick said he wanted to stay with the Patriots, putting the ball in the court of owner Robert Kraft regarding an uncertain future in New England. Meanwhile, the Panthers have already done “informal surveys” regarding Belichick’s availability for his own vacant head coaching position, according to CBS Sports HQ senior NFL insider Josina Anderson.
Carolina’s interest comes “from a high level,” Anderson said Monday, even though Belichick remains under contract with the Patriots, who are maintaining “status quo” immediately following the 2023 season. Belichick told NFL Media on Monday that he was willing to do “whatever we collectively decide is the best thing to help this football team,” such as welcoming a new decision-maker for player personnel, without giving any indication that he would prefer to leave the Patriots after 23 seasons as head coach.
Kraft, however, may have determined earlier this season — Belichick’s worst as an NFL head coach — that a split was inevitable, if previous reports are to be believed. The five-time Super Bowl champion is just 29-38 since Tom Brady’s exit as headliner before the 2020 season, having failed to eke out a playoff victory since the New -England went the distance in 2018.
Besides the Panthers, the Falcons are also considering a possible pursuit of Belichick, according to Anderson, while the commanders have has also been linked to longtime Patriots coach after The firing of Ron Rivera. Belichick notably grew up in Annapolis, Maryland, near Washington, D.C., and Commanders is able to reset at other key positions, like quarterback, in 2024.
If Belichick isn’t fired outright, interested teams could also attempt to trade for the coach.