Bill Belichick has not been an NFL head coach for almost two years. After the 2023 NFL season, the New England Patriots fired Belichick, leaving him without a job. The former Patriots head coach spent one year in the media before joining the North Carolina Tar Heels in college football. However, Belichick could make an NFL comeback.
Belichick has upper-level personnel who are still fond of him in Atlanta, New York, and Cleveland, as reported by NFL insider Josina Anderson. All three NFL organizations have connections to the Super Bowl-winning head coach, so this isn’t very surprising.
The New York Giants and Cleveland Browns employed Belichick before he joined the Patriots, while the Atlanta Falcons interviewed him during the 2023 NFL offseason. The Giants, Browns, and Falcons could all have new head coaches in 2026, making Belichick an intriguing figure in the coaching carousel.
Why Bill Belichick should return to the NFL as a head coach
Belichick’s first season in North Carolina wasn’t pretty. The Tar Heels finished with a 4-8 record, failing to make a bowl game. The 73-year-old head coach ended the 2025 season on a three-game losing streak; however, college football isn’t the same as the NFL.
If the Giants, Browns, or Falcons were to pursue Belichick this offseason, he should return to the NFL as a head coach. The Giants and Browns have rookie quarterbacks, while the Falcons’ offense is loaded with elite talent. Quite frankly, Atlanta should be Belichick’s top option if he really wants to make a comeback.
The Falcons have running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London, and tight end Kyle Pitts on offense, and Belichick would be able to help pick the franchise’s next quarterback. Meanwhile, the Giants have running back Cam Skattebo and wide receiver Malik Nambers, while the Browns have running back Quinshon Judkins.
Belichick is a better fit in the NFL than in college football, and several good jobs are expected to open soon. The former New England head coach should take a long look at the NFL during this coaching cycle, and based on Anderson’s reporting, several teams could target him as well.
