Earlier than Invoice
Belichick formally joined the College of North Carolina, the enduring head coach did his due diligence on the approaching NFL hiring cycle. Over the previous yr, reporters and pundits tried to attach Belichick to various NFL teaching gigs, and thru all of it, there appeared to be one constant sentiment: He would by no means return to the Jets.
Not so quick, according to Dianna Russini. In accordance with The Athletic reporter, Belichick just lately reached out to the Jets group to specific curiosity of their head teaching job. There have been by no means any formal conversations between the 2 sides contemplating the fast developments with the Tar Heels. However whereas Belichick’s camp examined the NFL waters in seek for his subsequent teaching gig, it’s surprising that he gave the Jets greater than a cursory look.
There’s been stress between the 2 sides for almost three many years. Belichick was famously chosen to switch Invoice
Parcells because the Jets sideline chief, however after solely sooner or later within the position, he shocked the NFL world by resigning as “HC of the NYJ.” Belichick was rapidly scooped up by the Patriots (who in the end needed to ship the Jets a first-round choose), and the pinnacle coach proceeded to torment his former franchise over the next years.
Belichick dropped three-straight video games to the Jets to start his tenure in New England. After that, the Patriots proceeded to go 38-9 in opposition to their division rival (together with playoffs), with Belichick incomes six Tremendous Bowl rings throughout that span. The coach has additionally been publicly vital of Jets proprietor Woody
Johnson, and he’s carried that rhetoric into his 2024 media position. The Jets had been additionally accountable for launching the 2007 Spygate investigation, an element that Belichick has at all times held in opposition to the rival (and former protege Eric
Mangini). In different phrases, it might have been a surprising improvement for the coach to out of the blue go crawling again to the group.
On the flip facet, if Belichick did return to the NFL, it was assumed he’d be keen on a win-now squad. The Jets had been constructed to contend for a Tremendous Bowl in 2024 earlier than issues went off the rail. Belichick has additionally proven a deep respect for Aaron Rodgers, and with different foundational items on either side of the ball, you may see why any coach would have an interest within the Jets job for 2025.
Belichick seems to be dedicated to UNC for the lengthy haul, so his reported curiosity within the Jets job would merely be a footnote in his soccer story. Nonetheless, there’s no denying that the pairing would have shocked the NFL world and commanded headlines for a lot of the offseason.
