Bill Belichick has already been linked to multiple NFL head coach jobs that could become vacant in the coming weeks, and there is at least one AFC team that reportedly has his attention.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are widely expected to fire head coach Doug Pederson in the near future, and Belichick is viewed as a coach the team will target in its search. During the latest episode of her “Scoop City” podcast with Chase Daniel, Dianna Russini of The Athletic indicated that Belichick is interested in the Jacksonville job.
“Belichick certainly has his eye on this Jacksonville opening,” Russini said. “This is an organization that has tons of respect for Belichick. They’ve got a good relationship already. … When you think about what they’re looking for and need there, it starts to make sense. This is a team that’s looking for structure. They’re looking for good situational football. They’re looking for a coach that can maximize talent, specifically on defense. They’ve got solid-to-good guys on their defense.
“The things they’re looking for make sense. But the question that I’m gonna have about how the Belichick situation is gonna work is what is going to be the power dynamic? Is he gonna get the keys to the castle? If they’re gonna give him unilateral control, like allow him to do that, why wouldn’t he go there?”
The Jaguars fell to 2-9 with their blowout loss to the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Though they have a franchise quarterback in place with Trevor Lawrence, they have been headed in the wrong direction since they collapsed over the second half last year and missed the playoffs.
If Belichick has more than one option, he might be inclined to join a team that is closer to contention than the Jaguars. A much more high-profile team was recently listed as the heavy favorite to land Belichick, but there would be serious questions about the 72-year-old’s level of roster control there.
Belichick would likely prefer to coach a team that is closer to being a Super Bowl contender than Jacksonville, but it is not out of the question that the Jaguars will make him an offer that is too good to refuse.
