The landscape of the NFL is witnessing an unprecedented scenario where the only coach to amass eight Super Bowl rings finds himself without a team for the upcoming 2024 season. Bill Belichick, a towering figure in football coaching, will be observing the forthcoming NFL campaign from the comfort of his living room, a situation hardly anyone could have imagined at the peak of his career.
Yet, the buzz regarding Belichick’s future, particularly his association with the Dallas Cowboys, is expected to dominate discussions in NFL circles. According to a detailed exploration by ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr., Seth Wickersham, and Jeremy Fowler, Belichick, who celebrated his 72nd birthday this week, is not stepping away from the game silently. Despite his current jobless status, he has reportedly set his eyes on a notable return to coaching in 2025, with the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, and New York Giants highlighted as his preferred destinations.
This news evokes intrigue, especially when considering the position of current Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, who, despite achieving three successive 12-win seasons, is on the brink of his contract’s conclusion following the 2024 season. Jerry Jones, the Cowboys’ owner, has opted not to extend McCarthy’s tenure beyond this period.
McCarthy’s job security has been a topic of speculation, especially after a disappointing playoff defeat to the Green Bay Packers, a mere three days subsequent to Belichick’s departure from the Patriots, a team he led for 24 years alongside owner Robert Kraft. Despite the logical fit and the longstanding friendship between Belichick and Jerry Jones, Jones’s historically cautious approach to changing coaches meant McCarthy remained for his contract’s final year.
The situation in Dallas is not just about the head coach. Key players including quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and edge rusher Micah Parsons are all at critical junctures concerning their contracts, with negotiations seemingly at a standstill.
Speculations are rife that Jones might be contemplating a comprehensive overhaul come 2025, a rumor fueled by the prospect of Belichick eagerly awaiting a call to return to the sidelines. His close relationship with both Jerry and Stephen Jones, coupled with his unmatched record of transforming talented rosters into championship teams, makes the link to Dallas a compelling narrative.
While Belichick’s immediate future involves game film studies from his couch, the anticipation about his potential NFL return and the transformative impact he could have on his next team continues to simmer. Notably, Dallas emerges as a fascinating option if Jerry Jones decides to part ways with McCarthy, despite Belichick’s historical connections with several top-notch coaches whom Jones has admired but never hired.
As the 2024 season progresses, the dynamics within the Dallas Cowboys and Bill Belichick’s next moves will be closely monitored, with the legendary coach’s attempt at a historic comeback being a narrative too enticing to ignore.