Multiple NFL teams have inquired about whether legendary coach Bill Belichick would reconsider his move to college football — including the Las Vegas Raiders, whose new minority owner Tom Brady spoke recently with his old coach about what it would take to make a reunion happen in Las Vegas, per sources.
In a surprise move, Belichick agreed on Dec. 11 to a five-year contract to become head coach at the University of North Carolina and has spent recent weeks assembling his staff and roster for his first season coaching at the college level after nearly five decades in the NFL.
But Brady has been in touch with Belichick recently as the Raiders weighed the future of head coach Antonio Pierce, who was fired on Tuesday after going 4-13 in his lone season as the full-time head coach. Brady and Belichick won six Super Bowls together with the Patriots, and sources say Brady believes the situation in Las Vegas requires a coach of Belichick’s expertise and stature to establish a sustainable winning program.
Belichick’s contract at North Carolina 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. Either way, it’s a fraction of Belichick’s salary by the end of his Patriots tenure, making it relatively easy to get out of, whether an NFL team or Belichick himself pays the buyout.
With few successful NFL head coaches currently available, at least one other team also has continued to check in on Belichick’s status. The Jets, Saints, Bears, Jaguars, Patriots and Raiders already have head-coaching vacancies, and the Cowboys’ situation remains unsettled with coach Mike McCarthy’s contract set to expire Jan. 14.
Besides the Raiders, the Jaguars could provide an alluring situation for Belichick. Like Raiders owner Mark Davis, Jacksonville owner Shad Khan has shown he will invest in the team, including the recent construction of a new training facility and putting $625 million in private funding toward a $1.4 billion “stadium of the future” that begins construction after next season.
In a way, Belichick’s situation mirrors the competition that arose for Jim Harbaugh’s services a year ago. Coming off a national championship season at Michigan, Harbaugh had an offer on the table from his alma mater while he interviewed with the Chargers and Falcons, ultimately deciding to land in L.A. on a contract that makes him one of the NFL’s highest-paid coaches.
The difference, of course, is Belichick, 72, has not even coached a single college game. But like Harbaugh, Belichick has a championship pedigree and — after a one-year hiatus following his mutual parting with the Patriots — a drive to keep winning at a high level. A similar competition could emerge for Belichick’s services, assuming he is willing to entertain NFL overtures.
Harbaugh first flirted with an NFL return three years ago, interviewing with the Vikings before they hired Kevin O’Connell, and Michigan waited for him while he worked through his options. He also spoke with the Broncos two years ago before they hired Sean Payton, before ending up with multiple options last year and choosing the Chargers.
NFL teams must abide by the Rooney Rule and conduct multiple interviews with minority candidates before hiring a head coach as part of a process the league has deliberately slowed down in recent years. Only the Falcons interviewed Belichick last year, speaking with him multiple times before hiring Raheem Morris on Jan. 25 — 19 days after their season ended.
So, if Belichick is going to seriously consider an NFL return, it could be weeks before his final destination in 2025 becomes clear.
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