Total Pro Sports
A surprise NFC team could target legendary football head coach Bill Belichick next year, a top NFL insider suggests.
In December, Bill Belichick agreed to a lucrative five-year contract with the North Carolina Tar Heels’ football team worth $50 million. The deal included a $10 million buyout if he ended the agreement before June 1, but that number is now down to just $1 million.
But amid all the off-the-field drama and headlines brought on by his relationship with 24-year-old Jordon Hudson, some wonder if the 73-year-old Belichick and UNC are already experiencing cold feet. Others assume that if Belichick has a good first year at Chapel Hill, he’ll be anxious to return to the NFL ranks immediately.
According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a team that could pursue Bill Belichick in 2026:
“Last year, Belichick consigliere Michael Lombardi was spreading a false rumor that (Bucs head coach Todd) Bowles may retire after the season. (Bowles quickly shut that down.) Which sparked speculation that Belichick was eyeballing the Buccaneers.
So why would Lombardi be trying to speak a vacancy into existence? Maybe because that’s one of the jobs Belichick would want. Even with all of the craziness that has happened of late, the Bucs can’t be ruled out as a potential destination for Belichick. Again, they hired Greg Schiano
Much of it depends on what the Bucs do (or don’t do) in 2025, and what the Tar Heels do (or don’t do) in 2025. Still, with Belichick’s buyout down to $1 million as of last Sunday, let’s not assume no one at the NFL level will want Belichick. The Bucs have the talent; if ownership decides that an excellent game-day coach could get them back to the top of the mountain, it’s not as nutty as it may seem.”
Florio noted the interesting coaching decisions the Buccaneers have made in the past, such as replacing Jon Gruden with Raheem Morris and Lovie Smith with Dirk Koetter (Tampa’s offensive coordinator at the time).
Bowles has gone 27-24-0 in three years as Tampa’s head coach, with three division titles and a playoff win. But Bill Belichick is arguably the greatest coach ever, so the Bucs could very well consider making the switch if the ex-New England Patriots head coach is open to the opportunity.
Even if the Buccaneers seriously pursue Belichick next year, let’s not act like they’re the only team that could target him. What if a bottom-feeder club like the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants or New Orleans Saints made an offer he couldn’t refuse? Or what if a team in win-now mode decided to dump their coach strictly for Belichick?
