Bill Belichick seems more likely than not to part ways with the New England Patriots at the end of the season, but there has been very little talk of the coach retiring. One reason for that is that Belichick is chasing a noteworthy NFL record.
Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported on Sunday that Belichick still intends to coach in 2024, whether he is in New England or elsewhere. Many have wondered why the 71-year-old would want to start fresh rather than just calling it a career, but he is said to be motivated to break Don Shula’s all-time wins record.
Belichick entered the season 18 wins shy of tying Shula’s record of 347 combined regular-season and playoff victories. The Patriots improved to 4-11 with their win over the Denver Broncos last week, so Belichick needs 14 more wins to tie Shula and 15 to pass the former Miami Dolphins coach.
If Belichick remains in New England, his best-case scenario is probably surpassing Shula in 2025. Patriots owner Robert Kraft may not want to wait that long to begin rebuilding, especially since Belichick is largely responsible for the team having one of the worst rosters in the NFL.
Unless Belichick decides he has accomplished enough and does not need Shula’s record to cement his legacy, he will likely be an NFL head coach somewhere next season. There is one scenario where he could return to New England, though that outcome seems unlikely.
