According to sports journalist Josh Dubow from the Associated Press,

After 24 years as coach of the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick’s departure raises the question of where the six-time Super Bowl champion will go next.

Belichick, who is 71 years old, only needs 15 more wins to surpass Don Shula’s total of 347 wins in both the regular season and playoffs. He may have some choices on where to continue coaching if he decides to pursue this record.

Seven coaching positions have become available outside of New England. The Raiders, Chargers, and Panthers have dismissed coaches during the regular season and changes for the postseason have already started. On Sunday night, the Atlanta Falcons fired Arthur Smith, the Commanders fired Ron Rivera on Monday, the Titans released Mike Vrabel on Tuesday, and Seahawks coach Pete Carroll announced his resignation on Wednesday.

Let’s take a peek at the current vacancies in the NFL and how Belichick could potentially be a good fit:

Smith’s termination was a result of three consecutive seasons with seven victories, as he failed to improve the skills of a quarterback or establish a successful offense, even after selecting highly-touted players such as tight end Kyle Pitts, receiver Drake London, and running back Bijan Robinson with top 10 picks.

The foundation presents a chance for an improved attack with the acquisition of a competent quarterback. The defensive lineup boasts a handful of strong players, notably safety Jessie Bates and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, for a coach like Belichick to establish a team.

The 81-year-old owner, Arthur Blank, appears to be losing his patience. It may be a good idea for the Falcons to pursue an experienced coach like Belichick in order to improve their chances of winning in the NFL’s weakest division.

The Panthers, led by owner David Tepper, have become known as the most disorganized team in the NFL. Tepper has already gone through six coaches, both permanent and temporary, since acquiring ownership in 2018. Belichick’s presence could provide the much-needed credibility for this struggling team.

During the 2019 season, Tepper dismissed Ron Rivera, followed by Matt Rhule in the early stages of the 2022 season. He then fired Frank Reich just 11 games into his time as coach this past season. Additionally, he received a penalty from the league last week after throwing a beverage at a fan in Jacksonville, resulting in a fine of $300,000.

The situation is even more problematic for the Panthers, who have only won two games, because they gave up their pick, which ended up being the first overall selection in April’s draft, in order to move up and select Bryce Young last year. Although Young had a difficult first year, his potential may still be appealing to Belichick.

If Belichick is seeking a large salary, Tepper has sufficient funds, although it may require several years to surpass Shula’s record due to the current state of the team.

Mark Davis, the owner, has a history of making bold coaching decisions, such as rehiring Jon Gruden. Tom Brady, who played for Belichick, is currently a co-owner of Davis’ WNBA team and has a deal in place to also become a part owner of the Raiders pending approval from the league.

The Raiders attempted to follow the Patriot Way by hiring Josh McDaniels, a former New England offensive coordinator, as coach and Dave Ziegler as general manager. However, both were fired within two years, leading to potential hesitation from Davis to take that approach again.

After replacing McDaniels, temporary coach Antonio Pierce brought renewed energy and has a chance to secure the position with a 5-4 record.

The Raiders lack solid foundations for a speedy transformation, aside from standout defensive end Maxx Crosby and 31-year-old wide receiver Davante Adams, which may not be enough to entice Belichick.

The Chargers are among the 12 teams that have never won a Super Bowl, making them a desirable choice for a six-time champion.

Although the Chargers have not had much success, they do have a small but devoted fan base and a history of not spending large amounts on coaches. However, if they are interested, one major advantage they can offer to attract Belichick is their ownership group.

Quarterback Justin Herbert has solidified his position as one of the most skilled throwers in the sport during his four-year career. He may just require the right coach to strengthen the rest of the team and contend for a championship.

In 2000, Belichick took over for Pete Carroll in New England and went on to achieve six Super Bowl victories with the Patriots. It appears improbable that he would have been selected to do the same in Seattle.

The Seahawks possess promising young players on offense and defense, such as DK Metcalf at receiver and Devon Witherspoon at cornerback. Rather than hiring another coach in their 70s, the team may seek a more permanent solution.

Following two consecutive losing seasons with the Tennessee Titans, coach Mike Vrabel, a former player under Belichick, was let go. However, this may not be the ideal destination for Belichick if he hopes to surpass Shula’s record.

The Titans possess strong players on defense and a significant amount of salary cap space, but their offense requires significant improvements. The offensive line will most likely require significant changes, the team lacks talented receivers, and their star running back Derrick Henry is on his way to free agency.

There are also major uncertainties at the quarterback position, as second-round selection Will Levis displayed some potential as a newcomer but has yet to establish himself as a reliable solution.

Under the leadership of Josh Harris, the ownership group, what was previously considered an undesirable location under former owner Dan Snyder, has become a much more appealing destination.

The team’s roster requires significant attention as they lack an established quarterback and have traded two important defensive starters for draft picks mid-season. However, the Commanders do hold the second overall pick, six picks within the top 102, and are expected to have the largest amount of salary cap space in the NFL during April’s draft.

Belichick, who was raised in the area while his father coached at Navy and spent over ten years as an assistant for the New York Giants in the NFC East, may find Washington appealing for sentimental reasons.

This may also interest Belichick, who shares a similar background with Vince Lombardi. Lombardi achieved five NFL championships in Green Bay before concluding his coaching career with one season in Washington and passing away in 1970.

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The Associated Press NFL webpage can be found at: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL.

Source: wralsportsfan.com