Getty Bill Belichick speaks with the media after stepping down as the HC.
When Bill Belichick became available to be the head coach of a new franchise, it seemed certain that he was going to get a job. However, that never ended up happening. In a column released on April 17 by Don Van Natta Jr., Seth Wickersham, and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Belichick believed the Atlanta Falcons job was his.
“On the morning of Jan. 25, a few hours before the Atlanta Falcons named Raheem Morris to be their next head coach, Bill Belichick believed the job was his.”
Belichick believed he had done everything right, putting him in a position to be the next head coach of the Falcons.
“From Belichick’s perspective, according to sources close to him, he had done everything right.”
Raheem Morris getting the job as the head coach came as a surprise to many, including Belichick.
“And then, like many fans, Belichick was blindsided by news that Atlanta had hired Morris, the Los Angeles Rams’ defensive coordinator who had worked for six years as an assistant coach and coordinator in Atlanta. Soon, the seven offseason coaching vacancies outside New England were filled — all by coaches with lesser résumés.”
Belichick ‘Wasn’t Seeking’ Total Control
Working with the New England Patriots as the head coach for 24 years, Belichick has arguably the most decorated coaching career in NFL history. With six Super Bowl championships, coaching arguably the greatest quarterback ever in Tom Brady, and all the other stories along the way, Belichick and the Patriots were a dynasty.
During his time with the Patriots, Belichick had full control over coaching and personnel decisions since the day arrived, according to a column by Judy Battista of NFL.com on January 11.
“Belichick had exercised full control over coaching and personnel ever since he first arrived, and for years, he had wielded that power with stunning success.”
While he had the power to do so with the Patriots, ESPN reports that Belichick told Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank “that he wasn’t seeking the total control” similar to how he was in New England.
“He assured Blank that he wasn’t seeking the total control he had for most of his 24 seasons in New England. He pledged to work with the team’s existing group of decision-makers, including general manager Terry Fontenot. Belichick also knew that Blank had checked his references with a group that included Patriots owner Robert Kraft and his son, Jonathan.”
However, the Falcons believed that if they hired Belichick, the whole package would come with him.
“And in the pair of interviews with Blank and Falcons executives, sources said, Belichick pledged his willingness to co-exist with Falcons executives under this new paradigm. In fact, he insisted he just wants to coach. But the Falcons realized that if you hire Bill Belichick, you hire all of him, an entire philosophy and ethos stemming from one man’s ethic and ingenuity, sources said.”
Blank Warned to ‘Not Trust Bill’
Belichick and Blank met on January 15, meeting at the Atlanta Falcons owner’s $180 million superyacht. According to ESPN, a source believed Blank came away thinking Belichick was his guy.
“I think Blank came away from the boat thinking this is my guy,” a source close to Belichick said.
Meeting four days later on January 19, Belichick again believed the meeting went well, but CEO Rich McKay, general manager Terry Fontenot, and team president Greg Beadles attended the meeting. McKay and Fontenot reportedly didn’t want to work with Belichick.
“By the time the meeting was over, Belichick felt confident it had gone well, a source close to him said. But a source familiar with the Falcons’ thinking said neither McKay nor Fontenot wanted to work with Belichick.”
Despite the promising conversation to be the Falcons’ head coach from the legends’ perspective, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft told Blank not to trust Belichick.
“Robert called Arthur to warn him not to trust Bill.”
A spokesman for Kraft denied that this happened, saying he advocated for him to get the Falcons job.
“Robert steadfastly denies saying anything negative to Arthur Blank about Bill Belichick after Robert and Bill mutually agreed to part ways,” Patriots spokesman Stacey James said. “In fact, Robert advocated for Bill to get the job.”
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