Bill Belichick is waiting in the wings. The New York Jets have just fired their head coach. They couldn’t… could they?
The NFL remains in the process of digesting its first coaching dismissal of the campaign after Robert Saleh was relieved of his duties by Woody Johnson in the wake of the Jets’ defeat to the Minnesota Vikings in London, just five weeks into the season.
While defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich takes over as interim head coach, the vacancy has naturally generated intrigue surrounding the possibility of a blockbuster Belichick return.
Sky Sports NFL presenter Neil Reynolds isn’t so sure.
Highlights of the New York Jets against the Minnesota Vikings in Week Five of the NFL season from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
“Possibly [Belichick to the Jets],” said Reynolds. “Robert Saleh’s firing was a huge surprise even though the Jets have lost back-to-back games. This coming weekend they’ll play for the first place in their division against the Buffalo Bills, so they are by no means out of the playoffs.
“There’s lots of conjecture about the relationship between Robert Saleh and the quarterback of the Jets, Aaron Rodgers. There’s lots of suggestions that Aaron Rodgers is running the show in the Big Apple.
“I don’t know if that’s a Bill Belichick scene really, but he was head coach of the New York Jets many years ago – for one day – before he started with the New England Patriots, when he then had a change of heart and joined the Patriots instead.
“He’s the biggest name out there, so possibly [Belichick to Jets], but if that’s what Aaron Rodgers wants, he should be careful what he wishes for, because Bill Belichick would not let Aaron Rodgers run the show in New York.”
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Belichick won a historic six Super Bowls during his time as New England Patriots head coach from 2000 to 2023, prior to which he served as New York assistant head coach and defensive coordinator between 1997 and 1999 before famously writing his resignation on a napkin.
The 72-year-old left his post in New England after a career-worst 4-13 record in 2023, his inability to find a long-term solution to the loss of Tom Brady ultimately proving his downfall.
Reynolds doesn’t expect the coaching great to rush back into a job before allowing himself to assess his options come January.
“Bill Belichick is quite happy at the moment it seems in the media, and maybe would have the pick of jobs in this upcoming off season,” Reynolds continued.
“He’s doing very well in the media, he’s making some good money and I know that because we tried to hire him at Sky and would have got him for about five minutes given his going rate.
“He’s quite comfortable where he is for now.”
The GMFB team analyses head coach Saleh’s sacking by the New York Jets
Saleh had hoped to lead a new era of contention for the Jets behind four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who returned to action this season after suffering a year-ending injury just four plays into his debut in 2023.
In an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show this week, Rodgers strongly denied suggestions he played a part in the decision to fire Saleh.
Whether he would welcome a Belichick union and potential power struggle, however, remains uncertain, believes Reynolds.
“We all wondered how Belichick would be with that kind of more relaxed approach, and talking about a game he’s coached in for years,” said Reynolds. “But he’s clearly very happy.
“He will want to be a head coach again, coaching is in his blood. The New York Jets are coming across as a little bit dysfunction right now, so I don’t know if this is one that would interest him.
“Certainly the quarterback running that team at the moment, may not want Bill Belichick as his coach.”
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