NFL analyst claims Bill Belichick could have “gotten anything he wanted” in potential deal with 49ers
Bill Belichick is spending the 2024 season off the gridiron. While he won't be out of sight this season, he will be watching the games rather than participating in them. Speaking on "Pro Football Talk," NFL analyst Mike Florio reported via the Athletic that 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said he had approached Belichick about a potential job.
Florio then said that Belichick could have gotten any job he wanted.
Mike Florio: "[00:01:06] If that's the job Belichick would have wanted... he would have gotten anything he wanted," Florio said.
"And that just shows that Kyle Shanahan is sufficiently secure in his competence to not be threatened by having Bill Belichick there. And what a combination they would have been: Shanahan in charge of the offense, Belichick in charge of the defense — holy crap, what the 49ers could have had," he added.
At the time, defensive coordinator Steve Wilks had managed the defense at Super Bowl 58. Following a late-game meltdown, the 49ers elected to make their first big change of the offseason via their coordinator. Wilks was removed, and the team made Nick Sorensen the defensive coordinator.
They also added Brandon Staley to help with the defense, who had been fired from the Los Angeles Chargers last season.
In Staley's only year as a defensive coordinator, he led the No. 1 defense in the NFL, handing the San Francisco 49ers a resume worthy of consideration. The 49ers bit and now have an analytics-first coordinator instead of Belichick.
Bill Belichick begins media role simultaneously with Tom Brady
Tom Brady and Bill Belichick spent roughly two decades together with the Patriots. After that, they spent three years on different teams. Belichick continued to work full-time; Tom Brady retired in 2023.
However, the 2024 season sees the two entering a similar career stage. Brady is set to begin commentating on games for Fox after a nearly two-year wait. Belichick, meanwhile, is set to work with "Inside the NFL" on the CW Network as an analyst, according to the Daily Mail.
While the comparisons between the two have seemingly taken a backseat with both now out of the league, a new competition could be starting up. With Belichick working for a competing network in a similar role, one wonders if Belichick can one-up Brady in a career in which both share a start line.
If any of the above quotes are used, credit "Pro Football Talk," and H/T Sportskeeda.