Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sources say the Panthers have some interest in the Patriots’ coach.
Bill Belichick’s legendary with tenure with the New England Patriots appears to be coming to an end. Belichick will coach out the remainder of the 2023 season, according to a report — before amicably parting ways with the Patriots after over 20 years at the helm of the most successful NFL dynasty of all time.
In terms of what comes next the most obvious answer is likely the correct one: Belichick will retire. There’s nothing left to achieve in the league for the coach, outside of chasing Don Shula’s all-time win record — but Belichick has never really been one to care about personal glory like that. The big question is whether he can walk away from the game, something which might prove impossibly difficult for the 71-year-old, who has spent almost 50 years in the NFL in some capacity.
If Belichick wants to continue coaching in the NFL there’s one team to put a pin in as a potential landing spot: The Carolina Panthers.
Sources close to the organization tell SB Nation that in late November, Panthers owner David Tepper inquired about what it would take to trade for Belichick following the 2023 season. This came days after the team fired former head coach Frank Reich. It’s unclear how serious these conversations became, but at least show there was a passing interest in bringing Belichick to Carolina.
The Panthers have struggled to find coaching consistency since parting ways with Ron Rivera in 2019. They first hired highly-coveted college coach Matt Rhule, whose indecisiveness caused a downward spiral, then hired Reich to try and steady the ship — which proved to be even worse. Now at 1-12 the franchise is in the midst of its worst season in history, with No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young getting no support from a woeful offensive line, a terrible receiving corps, and an ineffective offensive staff that can’t devise a plan to make anything work.
Tepper, the richest individual owner in the NFL, has the funds to pay Belichick whatever he wants — should he desire to continue coaching. On top of that the team’s front office is in flux, with Tepper refusing to answer questions about the future of general manager Scott Fitterer, widely seen by fans as the architect of the team’s on-field struggles.
This leaves the door open for the Panthers to not only be seeking a head coach, but a general manager in 2024 — with Belichick fitting the bill for both jobs. Adding another layer of intrigue is the status of Bill’s two sons, Brian and Steve. Both are currently position coaches on the Patriots’ defense, and presumably would leave the organization along with their father. Steve Belichick, once seen as the heir apparent, could be in line for a head coaching job in a few years with more experience under his belt, something he could get in Carolina under his father once more.
The question remains: Would Belichick even want to coach the Panthers? That’s a complicated question. On the one hand, Carolina is an extremely bad job. Tepper has developed a reputation as an impatient, meddlesome owner who won’t allow a coach the time to reshape the organization. He wants the team to win right now, and his adherence to this belief has caused the opposite.
That said, there are pieces available to work with. Despite his struggles, Bryce Young is still a plus-level quarterback who at the very least is a much better version of Mac Jones who can run a Belichick offense. In addition it would allow Belichick to get a serious monkey off his back: Whether he can win without Tom Brady. If that’s something that’s irked the coach there’s a very real chance he could take the Carolina job to make a statement, and if he’s able to turn that mess around — well, there would be no doubt in his greatness.
It remains a little too early to truly speculate on what Belichick will do. At this point neither the Pats, nor Belichick have addressed the report that he’s leaving the team. However, if he does indeed leave New England while still wanting to coach in the NFL — keep an eye on the Panthers. It might not be a smart move for the franchise, but it’s big, flashy, and aligns with their owner’s desires.
