6 rings: Could this Sunday really be Bill Belichick’s final game as head coach of the Patriots?
The Bill Belichick rumor mill will be spinning by the day as we gear up for not only the Patriots' final game of the season, but also what could be the final game of the head coach's tenure with the New England Patriots.
Here's a look at the latest news, notes, rumors, and reports coming out of Foxborough as well as a full timeline of everyting that's been reported thus far:
THE LATEST:
Jan. 7 - Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris is reportedly "enamored" with the idea of Bill Belichick being the next head coach of his football team, per Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio.
Jan. 7 - It's Sunday splash time. Ahead of what could be Bill Belichick's final game in New England, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport called it exactly that.
"For the first time since he began a storied tenure that led to one of the sport's greatest dynasties," he wrote on Sunday morning in a piece titled Sunday's game vs. Jets could be Bill Belichick's last as Patriots head coach, "Bill Belichick's future in unknown."
Here's what else Rapoport shared:
-- It doesn't seem like Belichick will be outright fired.
-- If Belichick becomes available, he would be expected to draw significant interest in this offseason's coaching carousel. "The Commanders are not likely to pursue Belichick if they move on from head coach Ron Rivera," Rapoport wrote. "And the Chargers and Raiders are considered less likely options. The Panthers, however, had some interest during their head-coaching search when they eventually hired Frank Reich, sources say, and they might inquire again. There is also the possibility that a team with a head-coaching position not yet open could have interest in Belichick."
Jan. 7 - Bill Belichick's name has "come up frequently" in connection with a potential head coach opening with the Atlanta Falcons, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
Jan. 7 - Here's the latest from NFL Network's Tom Pelissero on a potential breakup between Mike Vrabel and the Titans:
"If Vrabel did become available, though, league sources expect there would be a robust market. Among other teams, the Patriots -- who inducted Vrabel into their Hall of Fame in October and ignited speculation when Vrabel was spotted watching the game from owner Robert Kraft's suite while Tennessee had its bye -- potentially could have an opening soon and would be a logical landing spot."
Jan. 6 - The Athletic's Dianna Russini wrote on Saturday that the NFL's 2024 coaching carousel is "all centered around New England." Here are two of her Patriots-related nuggets from around the league:
-- Several teams, including the Washington Commanders and Las Vegas Raiders, are hoping for a chance to meet with Belichick if he does depart from New England.
-- While there has been some chatter that Texans general manager Nick Caserio (who was formerly the Patriots director of player personnel) could return to New England, he reportedly wants to stay in Houston.
Jan 6. - Here’s the latest from ESPN’s Adam Schefter: “New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and team owner Robert Kraft are expected to meet soon to discuss their futures. Although many around the league expect that a change will come in New England, the sides apparently have not yet talked about a split at any point this season.”
Schefter also added that, There are people around the league who think that either [Mike] Vrabel would be open to be moved to another team or that the Titans would be open to moving him -- maybe both.” That’s one to watch for New England given his ties to the franchise.
FULL TIMELINE:
Dec. 11 - NBC Sports Boston's Tom E. Curran reports that "a decision was made" on Bill Belichick's future when the Patriots lost to the Colts in Germany on November 12. "Conversations I had that week," Curran said on NBC Sports Boston. "Made it very clear that a decision was made, and they were going to play out the string, and at the end of the year there would be a parting of the ways."
Dec. 13 - ESPN's Dan Graziano reports that there is a "growing belief around the NFL" that someone besides Belichick will be coaching the Patriots in 2024, adding that the "expectation" is that there will be "at least some attempt by the team to honor the man's accomplishments rather than just unceremoniously boot him out the door," a.k.a. a mutual parting of ways as opposed to a firing.
Dec. 14 - Boston Sports Journal's Greg Bedard reports that linebackers coach Jerod Mayo has "rubbed at least some people the wrong way in the [Patriots] building since his extension [this past offseason]," adding that one source called it a "longshot" that Mayo becomes the team's next head coach.
Dec. 16 - NFL Network's Ian Rapoport says that "the fate of Bill Belichick as head coach of the New England Patriots has not yet been decided." He continued: "While the expectation is that a decision on his future will play out over the next month, sources also say it could take longer than that," Adding, "The way New England finishes could go a long way in determining what's next."
Dec. 20 - Former Patriots safety Devin McCourty calls the Mayo report 'awkward'.
Dec. 26 - Boston Sports Journal's Mike Giardi reports that Bill Belichick has "expressed doubt" about his future to the Patriots' staff over the past few weeks. He also added that the coach has yet to sit down with ownership to discuss what's next.
Jan. 2 - Jerod Mayo responds to report that he's rubbed people the wrong way, calling it "hurtful."
Jan. 3 - ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports that "some staff members are bracing for change and have begun examining outside opportunities out of necessity."
Jan. 4 - The Boston Herald's Andrew Callahan and Doug Kyed dropped a bombshell on Thursday morning outlining all of the dysfunction surrounding the 2023-24 Patriots this season. Here are the top nuggets:
-- After last season's debacle with Matt Patricia and Joe Judge running the Patriots offense, Bill Belichick reportedly still wanted to keep Patricia on as the offensive coordinator, but he ultimately relented to Kraft's decision for a search.
-- Bill O’Brien, who was ultimately hired as OC, reportedly wanted to clean house and build his own staff, but Belichick denied him. O'Brien was allowed only one hire in tight end's coach Will Lawing. A team source reportedly called the staff dynamic "completely f--ed."
-- Offensive line coach Adrian Klemm reportedly "confronted Patriots director of player personnel Matt Groh early in the season in a loud exchange that reverberated through the organization," about the lack of talent on the team.
-- A team source said the Patriots "had no chance to win with Mac [Jones] at quarterback."
Jan. 4 - CBS Sports' Josina Anderson reports that there are teams in the NFC South (a division made up of the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers) who have interest in Bill Belichick to be their next head coach. Anderson also reports that "there are still recent high-level sentiments within the [Patriots] organization regarding desires to mutually part ways & start anew."
Jan. 4 - ESPN's Mike Reiss reports that the meeting between Bill Belichick and Patriots ownership (Robert and Jonathan Kraft) is set to take place on Monday.
Jan 6. - Here’s the latest from ESPN’s Adam Schefter: “New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and team owner Robert Kraft are expected to meet soon to discuss their futures. Although many around the league expect that a change will come in New England, the sides apparently have not yet talked about a split at any point this season.”
Schefter also added that, There are people around the league who think that either [Mike] Vrabel would be open to be moved to another team or that the Titans would be open to moving him -- maybe both.” That’s one to watch for New England given his ties to the franchise.
Jan. 6 - The Athletic's Dianna Russini wrote on Saturday that the NFL's 2024 coaching carousel is "all centered around New England." Here are two of her Patriots-related nuggets from around the league:
-- Several teams, including the Washington Commanders and Las Vegas Raiders, are hoping for a chance to meet with Belichick if he does depart from New England.
-- While there has been some chatter that Texans general manager Nick Caserio (who was formerly the Patriots director of player personnel) could return to New England, he reportedly wants to stay in Houston.
Jan. 7 - It's Sunday splash time. Ahead of what could be Bill Belichick's final game in New England, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport called it exactly that.
"For the first time since he began a storied tenure that led to one of the sport's greatest dynasties," he wrote on Sunday morning in a piece titled Sunday's game vs. Jets could be Bill Belichick's last as Patriots head coach. "Bill Belichick's future in unknown."
Here's what else Rapoport shared:
-- It doesn't seem like Belichick will be outright fired.
-- If Belichick becomes available, he would be expected to draw significant interest in this offseason's coaching carousel. "The Commanders are not likely to pursue Belichick if they move on from head coach Ron Rivera," Rapoport wrote. "And the Chargers and Raiders are considered less likely options. The Panthers, however, had some interest during their head-coaching search when they eventually hired Frank Reich, sources say, and they might inquire again. There is also the possibility that a team with a head-coaching position not yet open could have interest in Belichick."
Jan. 7 - Bill Belichick's name has "come up frequently" in connection with a potential head coach opening with the Atlanta Falcons, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
Jan. 7 - Here's the latest from NFL Network's Tom Pelissero on a potential breakup between Mike Vrabel and the Titans:
"If Vrabel did become available, though, league sources expect there would be a robust market. Among other teams, the Patriots -- who inducted Vrabel into their Hall of Fame in October and ignited speculation when Vrabel was spotted watching the game from owner Robert Kraft's suite while Tennessee had its bye -- potentially could have an opening soon and would be a logical landing spot."
Jan. 7 - Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris is reportedly "enamored" with the idea of Bill Belichick being the next head coach of his football team, per Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio.
Make sure to follow Mike on Twitter @mikekadlick, and follow @WEEI for the latest up-to-date Patriots and Boston sports news!
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