Bill Belichick won’t be on an NFL sideline for the first time since 1985, and legendary New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is shocked that no team has picked him up.
Rob Gronkowski Surprised That Bill Belichick Doesn’t Have a Head Coaching Job
In a conversation with Sal Iacono on FanDuel TV, Gronkowski expressed his shock that no team picked up Belichick as their head coach.
“Do these teams not want to win?… Coach Belichick has THE best strategic game plans week in and week out.”
– @RobGronkowski is surprised that Bill Belichick doesn’t have a head coaching job#CSWW With @TheCousinSal: https://t.co/QsLls7VDMk pic.twitter.com/OHaIYgQnjp
— FanDuel TV (@FanDuelTV) April 19, 2024
“I was with Julian [Edelman,] he said this … ‘Do these teams not want to win?’ That’s a great way to put it,” Gronkowski said. “He’s a tough coach and all that, but do they not wanna win? Coach Belichick has one of the best strategic game plans week in and week out. I would actually probably say the best strategic game plans week in and week out. No doubt about that.”
Gronkowski went on to praise Belichick for his professionalism and his desire and ability to win games.
“He’s there to coach the game of football,” Gronkowski said. “He’s not there to do NIL deals. He’s not there to kiss and take pictures with babies. He’s there to win football games, so it’s very surprising that he does not have a head coaching job. There’s no doubt about that.”
The five-time Pro Bowler added that he could see Belichick wanting to take one year off from coaching.
“I could see him possibly maybe wanting to take a year off as well, so the interviews were maybe like, ‘Hey, I’m only gonna take the job if I really feel like I want that job; if not, I could take a year off and then come back. There’s gonna be more openings like there is every single year,'” Gronkowski said. “I mean, there’s five coaches fired after the season every year, so there’s gonna be an opening somewhere. But it is a little surprising.”
What’s Next for Belichick?
Belichick and New England mutually agreed to part ways in mid-January.
The three-time AP Coach of the Year ended his Patriots tenure with a regular-season record of 266-121 in 24 seasons and a 30-12 mark in the playoffs (6-3 in the Super Bowl). However, Belichick went just 29-38 after Gronkowski and quarterback Tom Brady left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ahead of the 2020 campaign.
The 2023 season was Belichick’s worst with the Patriots.
New England missed the playoffs for the second straight year and finished in last place in the AFC East at 4-13, its worst record since 2000. That was Belichick’s first year at the helm, and Brady was a rookie, still one season away from taking over as the starting quarterback.
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr., Seth Wickersham, and Jeremy Fowler published a wide-ranging report on Belichick’s failed job hunt this offseason. The report also offers insight into his future plans, including three potential job openings he might target in 2025.
If Belichick coaches again, the NFC East could be his landing spot.
“He is believed to be biding his time until next January for openings on teams he has told confidants he would be interested in coaching: the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, and New York Giants,” ESPN wrote.
In the meantime, Belichick is believed to be getting involved in the TV industry.
“In the coming weeks, Belichick is expected to sign a deal to do analysis for Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions, which produces ESPN’s ‘ManningCast’ during Monday Night Football,” ESPN wrote.
Pat McAfee has also announced that Belichick will be a guest on his show for the NFL Draft.
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McAfee’s recruitment of Belichick is no secret. After Belichick went unhired in this offseason’s coaching cycle, McAfee said he wanted to add Belichick as a weekly guest.
“I will make this promise that, if Bill Belichick is gonna go do TV, ol’ Pat McAfee will be in the running to try to get Bill Belichick to join our program,” McAfee said in January.