Bill Belichick has competition for Falcons head coach job

Dec 27, 2010; Houston, TX, USA; Atlanta Falcons helmet on the field before a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Georgia Dome. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Bill Belichick has some competition for the Atlanta Falcons head coach job.

The Falcons are scheduling a second interview with Jim Harbaugh for next week, NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reported on Friday.

The #Falcons are scheduling a second interview with Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh for next week, per sources.

So with Bill Belichick in Atlanta for more meetings today, the Falcons also want to continue the conversation with Harbaugh, who met in-person with them on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/bcAfwpjp53

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 19, 2024

The Falcons reportedly flew Belichick in on Thursday night and met with him on Friday for a second interview.

The Atlanta Falcons have Bill Belichick as their top candidate, flying him into Atlanta on one of Arthur Blank's private planes last night.
Dinner last night, more meetings to come, per multiple sources.

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 19, 2024

Belichick also spoke with Falcons owner Arthur Blank previously for his first interview. Everything seemed to point to things heating up between the Falcons and Belichick, but Atlanta’s search is continuing.

The Falcons initially shared on Tuesday that they had interviewed Harbaugh.

We have interviewed Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh for our head coach opening

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) January 17, 2024

The team will be conducting second interviews next week. Belichick was the first candidate to receive a second interview, and we know Harbaugh will be one of his competitors for the job.

In addition to Belichick and Harbaugh, the Falcons have interviewed Brian Johnson, Aaron Glenn, Steve Wilks, Mike MacDonald, Ejiro Evero, Anthony Weaver and Brian Callahan for their head coach job.

Atlanta is coming off three straight 7-10 seasons under previous head coach Arthur Smith, who was fired after the season.