Phil Perry breaks down why the Atlanta Falcons could be a front runner to land Bill Belichick next season.
It finally happened.
Bill Belichick is no longer the head coach of the New England Patriots.
Belichick and the Patriots announced Thursday they have mutually parted ways after a 24-year partnership that saw the Patriots win six Super Bowl titles in nine appearances.
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So, what's next for Belichick?
He's only 15 wins away from breaking Don Shula's all-time coaching victories record. He could break that record in two seasons.
More Bill Belichick coverage
There are a bunch of head coach vacancies across the NFL right now. Belichick would be a good fit for a few of them. Even though his roster building moves haven't yielded a ton of positive results in recent years, his coaching acumen remains the best in the league.
Keep it right here for the latest Belichick rumors and news. We will update this tracker whenever new information comes to light.
Thursday, Feb. 1: The NFL is out of head coaching vacancies. The Washington Commanders are hiring Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn as their new head coach, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, meaning no head coach openings remain for Belichick.
Unless Chiefs head coach Andy Reid decides to retire after Kansas City plays in the Super Bowl -- which seems unlikely at the moment -- Belichick will be out of an NFL coaching job in 2024.
Thursday, Jan. 24: The Atlanta Falcons are hiring Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris as their next head coach, according to multiple reports. Belichick has only interviewed with the Falcons to this point, per NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, which means he could be out of an NFL coaching job in 2024.
Thursday, Jan. 24: The Panthers' head coach job is off the board. Carolina is hiring Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Dave Canales in a surprise move, NFL Media's Ian Rapoport reports.
There are now just three NFL head coach openings: the Falcons, the Seattle Seahawks and the Washington Commanders.
Wednesday, Jan. 24: The Los Angeles Chargers are no longer a possible landing spot for Belichick. Jim Harbaugh is leaving Michigan to accept the Chargers' head-coaching position, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Wednesday, Jan. 24: Belichick has plenty of competition for the Falcons job: Former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel and Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero are interviewing with Atlanta on Wednesday, while Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh and Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik are set to interview Thursday, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.
The Falcons have interviewed or will interview 13 head coach candidates to date.
Tuesday, Jan. 23: Belichick's Falcons candidacy has "lost momentum in the past week," The Athletic's Josh Kendall reported, noting that multiple sources told him "assuming it's 'Belichick or bust' is inaccurate."
Tuesday, Jan. 23: The Falcons have requested second in-person interviews with two Detroit Lions assistants: offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, per ESPN's Michael Rothstein.
Since the Lions are playing in the NFC Championship Game this Sunday, both of those interviews can't take place until next week, which would mean more waiting for Belichick unless another suitor emerges.
Monday, Jan. 22: What is Belichick's market outside Atlanta? According to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, "multiple teams" are "quietly considering a potential run at Belichick," including at least one team that currently has a head coach.
Friday, Jan. 19: The Falcons announced they completed their second interview with Belichick:
Friday, Jan. 19: We may have to wait a while longer to find out where Belichick will coach in 2024. The Falcons, who held a second meeting with Belichick on Friday, also scheduled a second interview with Jim Harbaugh for next week according to NFL Media's Tom Pelissero.
Thursday, Jan. 11: The Falcons are a team that's been linked to Belichick in several rumors this week.
Our own Phil Perry provided some fresh reporting Thursday on NBC 10 Boston.
"I'd keep my eye on (the) Atlanta (Falcons). Atlanta is a team that is interested in Bill Belichick," Perry said.
He added: "The reasons why the fit is a snug one, in my opinion, starts with ownership in Atlanta. Arthur Blank is highly respected around the NFL. He also has been acknowledging to people around him, sources have told me, that there's a lot of urgency for him to win right now because he's getting up there in age. He's owned this team for a long time. And he's typically gone with new head coaches, first-time head coaches when he has made head coaching hires. I think he's going to want to do something different in order to try to win right away down there in Atlanta. Who better to hire than Bill Belichick?"
ESPN's Adam Schefter also mentioned the Falcons as a potential destination for Belichick.
Wednesday, Jan. 10: We have another surprise head coach opening: Pete Carroll is out as Seahawks head coach and will transition to an "advisor" role in Seattle, the team announced.
The 72-year-old Carroll was the NFL's oldest head coach, but for now, that distinction now belongs to the 71-year-old Belichick.
Wednesday, Jan. 10: While his future remains uncertain, Belichick is continuing to take a "business as usual" approach and is even giving his coaching staff the next two weeks off, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reports.
Wednesday, Jan. 10: The Patriots are discussing "potential new personnel additions" as they continue to plan for the future, CBS Sports' Josina Anderson reports.
Wednesday, Jan. 10: The Atlanta Falcons will have "strong interest" in Belichick as their next head coach if he leaves New England, ESPN's Dan Graziano reports, adding that "people close to Belichick believe (Atlanta) would be a good fit for him."
"It's a strong roster that, yes, needs to figure out the quarterback position. It's in a relatively calm market where he could be all about the football. And he'd have a team owner who doesn't meddle in day-to-day affairs," Graziano wrote of the Falcons.
Tuesday, Jan.9: A couple former Patriots players -- Jamie Collins and Benjamin Watson -- both reacted to the Vrabel news with posts on X.
Tuesday, Jan. 9: We have another head coach opening: The Tennessee Titans announced they're parting ways with Mike Vrabel.
NFL Media's Ian Rapoport suggested the former Patriots linebacker could be in the running for New England's head coach job if the team parts ways with Belichick.
Tuesday, Jan. 9: Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz provided another update on Belichick's situation. He reports: "Belichick met with ownership on Monday and is scheduled for at least one more meeting as the sides seek a final resolution on his future. Coaches and front office members in the building do not know what will happen. This is solely a Kraft/Belichick discussion."
Monday, Jan. 8: The Athletic's Jeff Howe reports that Belichick and Kraft had an "initial discussion" Monday but "the expectation is they’ll meet at least once more" to discuss Belichick's future.
Howe also reports that former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is "considered a candidate to return" to New England if Belichick keeps his job.
Monday, Jan. 8: NBC Sports Boston's Tom E. Curran provided the following update on Belichick's future in a post on X:
Monday, Jan. 8: CBS Sports' Josina Anderson reports the Panthers have made "informal inquiries" regarding Bill Belichick. The Panthers have head coach and general manager vacancies.
Monday, Jan. 8: Bleacher Report's Jordan Schultz reports that Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel is "interested in the idea" of a return to New England. Vrabel, of course, was a Patriots linebacker from 2001 through 2008 and was recently inducted into the team's Hall of Fame.
Monday, Jan. 8: The Atlanta Falcons are interested in Belichick, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic.
The Falcons fired head coach Arthur Smith after three seasons. Atlanta went 21-30 with zero playoff appearances under Smith.
Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer provided an update Sunday on what Falcons owner Arthur Blank might be thinking in regards to Belichick, if the Patriots head coach becomes available.
"I'm gonna give you one factor that people maybe aren't paying enough attention to, and that's geography," Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer said Sunday on NBC Sports Boston's Patriots Pregame Live. "So if you want to look at the teams that could be interested here -- Carolina, Atlanta, the Chargers, the Raiders. It certainly sounds, talking to people who know Bill well, that he would rather stay east.
"And that's why the Falcons, one reason at least, why the Falcons have come into play as a factor here potentially over the next week or two when it comes to Bill Belichick. And, you know, speaking specifically to maybe the approach of Arthur Blank, their owner down there, it sure sounds like he likes Arthur Smith quite a bit, but they haven't finished the season the way he'd like.
"Blank is 81 years old and the thought may be he takes a big swing or sticks with Arthur Smith. So he could be looking at Bill Belichick, Jim Harbaugh, someone along those lines where if he can land one of them and create that sort of urgency at his age and as an organization, he'd be willing to do it."
Monday, Jan. 8: The Washington Commanders have hired former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers and former Minnesota Vikings GM Rick Spielman to help lead the franchise's search for a head coach, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported over the weekend that the Commanders and Las Vegas Raiders are hoping to meet with Belichick if he's available.
Monday, Jan. 8: The Panthers, who already fired their head coach during the season, parted ways with GM Scott Fitterer on Monday, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. If Belichick wants to be the head coach and de facto GM wherever he is next season, Carolina is one destination with both jobs available.
