Bill Belichick turned down non-NFL coaching opportunity with Philadelphia franchise: Report
Bill Belichick has been the gold standard of coaching in the NFL for more than two decades. However, after parting ways with the New England Patriots, Belichick had the opportunity to take another coaching job this year, albeit not in football.
Throughout his college days at Wesleyan, the six-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots participated in two sports: one being football and the other being lacrosse. Over the years, Belichick has displayed his fondness for his college sport in the NFL. He labeled the sport as his "second favorite game" in an interview with GQ in 2023.
As such, Premier Lacrosse League president and co-founder Paul Rabil claimed that Belichick was approached for a coaching gig. Rabil told the league's YouTube channel that the Philadelphia Waterdogs coach Bill Tierney wanted Bill Belichick for the position of defensive coordinator after his time with the Patriots ended.
Rabil said in the interview:
“Do you know who Bill (Tierney) went to for his defensive coordinator position? Bill Belichick. Almost got him. Almost got him. He went to him. He made him say no.”
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As per reports, Belichick was close to joining the Atlanta Falcons as their coach. However, after declining the lacrosse coaching position, for the first time since 1976, when he started his coaching career, Belichick wasn't in a dugout for a full season.
What is the next move for Bill Belichick?
Even though the three-time NFL Coach of the Year will not be in a coaching role this season, he will not be entirely away from the NFL. Bill Belichick is set to kickstart his broadcasting career at the age of 72 this season with ESPN’s "Monday Night Football with Peyton and Eli."
Belichick will join former quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Eli Manning on their "MannigCast" show. The first game that Belichick will lend his expertise to will be the New York Jets vs. the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 9.
Only time will tell whether this move to broadcasting is permanent or will Belichick try to get a coaching job in the NFL once again.