Multiple NFL owners eyeing Bill Belichick for 2025 coaching cycle

Bill Belichick was left without a head coaching job following the conclusion of this offseason's hiring cycle, but it appears the living legend hasn't yet worked his final game from a sideline. 

According to Lauren Campbell of MassLive, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported during an on-air segment ahead of the Super Bowl LVIII matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs that "the expectation now within the league is Belichick is coaching somewhere" during the 2025 season. 

"In fact, I am told shortly after (Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank) opted to hire Raheem Morris over Belichick several weeks ago, multiple owners reached out to Belichick about next year’s hiring cycle." 

Multiple in-the-know individuals suggested during Super Bowl week that Belichick turned Blank down in January, perhaps because the six-time Super Bowl champion head coach wanted the final say regarding matters such as personnel and draft decisions. However, Blank has since denied such claims and also insisted that Belichick was never offered the full-time gig before the hiring of Morris. 

Some have speculated that the fact Belichick turns 72 years old in April coupled with questions about his ability to relate to current players scared at least some owners off. With that said, he repeatedly has been linked with potential future moves to the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys after both were one-and-done playoff clubs this season. 

"Belichick is a history buff who could prioritize historic franchises next cycle," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler explained over the weekend. "Think about the jobs that could potentially open...If (head coach) Mike McCarthy's contract expires without more playoff wins, Belichick's strong relationship with (Cowboys owner and general manager) Jerry Jones could loom large." 

Jones raised plenty of eyebrows when he said in late January he had "no doubt" he and Belichick "could work together" regardless of how much power the latter may want to join a franchise next year. As for what Belichick may do during the 2024 campaign, Andrew Marchand of The Athletic noted last week that CBS' "The NFL Today" program remains set to have multiple openings following the Super Bowl at a time when "Belichick is likely the biggest name on the TV market." 

It's unclear if Belichick wants to work as an in-studio analyst from September until he possibly lands head coaching interviews in January 2025.