Hours before the Atlanta Falcons announced Raheem Morris as their new HC, Bill Belichick thought the position was his. The legendary NFL coach, who ranks second in all-time wins, had participated in extensive interviews for the role, including a private meeting with Falcons owner Arthur Blank on his superyacht and a follow-up session at Blank’s residence, flying in on the owner’s private jet.

However, in a shocking turn of events, Belichick, like many fans, was taken aback when the Falcons chose Morris, the DC for the Los Angeles Rams who had previously spent six years coaching in various roles in Atlanta. Blank and his senior team had conducted a vote to rank each candidate, and shockingly, Belichick did not make the top three in any of their assessments.

Kraft may have had a hand in Bill Belichick being jobless

According to a report by Jeremy Fowler and Don Van Natta Jr., Robert Kraft’s influence reportedly played a pivotal role in the Falcons’ decision to hire Raheem Morris over Bill Belichick for their head coaching position. Kraft, the New England Patriots owner, reportedly shared a candid and less-than-flattering assessment of Belichick’s character. A source familiar with the conversations told reporters, “Robert called Arthur to warn him not to trust Bill.” 

Kraft relayed to Blank that engaging with Belichick might not yield the “warm conversation” that leaders like Blank prefer. This insight aligned with Blank’s preference for a coaching environment that felt more like a family, something he thought could not be achieved under Belichick’s leadership.

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The backdrop to Kraft’s disapproval includes a series of internal disagreements that gradually eroded the trust between him and Belichick. These incidents ranged from the infamous Spygate to Aaron Hernandez and the departure of Tom Brady. Over time, Kraft found Belichick to be “extremely difficult, obstinate, and, in the end, not worthy of his trust,” further described by sources as “very, very, very arrogant.”

All this ultimately influenced Blank’s decision, leading him to pass over the legendary coach in favor of Morris. And it’s not just the Falcons who rejected the “greatest coach in NFL history”.

Teams that refused to take in Belichick

In NFL chatter, Philadelphia had emerged as a potential landing spot for Bill Belichick, despite some voices in the league suggesting that his best days were behind him. However, the idea of Belichick joining the Eagles raised concerns about the extensive organizational changes that would follow—alterations in everything from the training staff to the salary cap structure. With Belichick possibly retiring after achieving just 15 more wins to surpass Don Shula’s record, the Eagles had hesitated.

The Dallas Cowboys, with their longstanding relationship between Jerry Jones and Belichick and a shared urgency to win, also appeared as a fitting choice. However, despite his propensity for dramatic offseason promises, Jones is known for his reluctance to switch head coaches, opting to retain Mike McCarthy for another season following a disappointing playoff exit.

Washington had also shown significant interest in Belichick, who was personally motivated by his childhood connections to the area. Even the Commanders’ minority owner Magic Johnson was notably proactive in advocating for Belichick’s appointment. Despite these favorable conditions and discussions with new GM Adam Peters, Commanders’ principal owner Josh Harris decided against hiring Belichick, preferring to maintain a leadership structure similar to his other sports franchises, with a strong GM above the HC.

Now with all major coaching positions filled up, Belichick is looking to make his TV debut, before the next offseason starts, and he hopefully, lands a coaching job.