NFL insider lays out 1 scenario where Bill Belichick might return to Patriots

Nov 10, 2023; Frankfurt, Germany; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick speaks to the media before an NFL International Series practice at the Deutcher Fussball-Bund facility. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

The New England Patriots have shown signs of improvement over the past month, and some are wondering if the success will be enough to keep Bill Belichick with the team in 2024. One longtime NFL insider says there is a scenario where he could see Belichick staying with the Patriots for another season.

Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated was asked in his latest mailbag about the likelihood of Belichick being the head coach of the Patriots next season. Breer said he believes there is a “less than 50-50” chance that Belichick will return.

However, if Belichick does want to coach the Patriots in 2024, Breer can envision one scenario that might make it work.

“But I could see a scenario where Patriots owner Robert Kraft goes to Belichick and lays it out like this: We were going to restructure football ops after you retired, so rather than waiting for that, we’re going to do it now. I’m hiring a general manager. You won’t report to him, but he won’t report to you, either. Both of you will report to me, and you will work together, with his job being to build the roster up to 90, and your job being to cut it down to 53. If you want to be a part of that, great. If not, we can find a graceful way to end this,” Breer wrote.

Belichick is essentially the head coach and general manager in New England. That structure has been in place for years, and there is probably language in Belichick’s contract that gives him final say over roster decisions. Since the Patriots have one of the worst rosters in football, there have been questions about whether Belichick should step aside as GM and focus on coaching.

It may sound farfetched that Belichick would agree to be stripped of some responsibilities just to remain with the Patriots, but what if there is no other team that wants him as a GM? Breer’s scenario might be more realistic if that is the case.

Belichick has repeatedly been linked to one particular AFC team, but it is fair to wonder if any NFL owner is willing to give the 71-year-old the type of control he has had in New England.