What are the pros and cons of the Washington Commanders potentially making Bill Belichick their next head coach in 2024?
The Washington Commanders are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to find the right head coach to take the organization into an exciting new era. It's been a dramatic week of change around the league. Now, the biggest fish of all is there for the taking.
After a trophy-laden stint with the New England Patriots spanning more than two decades, the franchise and Bill Belichick have decided to go their separate ways. Things didn't go according to plan after letting legendary quarterback Tom Brady walk, but his availability should spark numerous teams into action.
Rumors about the Commanders taking an interest in Belichick have been rife in recent weeks. Josh Harris is said to be enamored with the coach as a leader and strategist. Whether it's enough to deviate from their current train of thought remains to be seen.
With this in mind, here are four pros and cons of Belichick potentially becoming the Commanders' next head coach in 2024.
Pro. No. 1
Commanders don't have to trade for Bill Belichick
This is a contentious issue among the fanbase. One of the main problems centered on the Washington Commanders needing to part ways with valuable draft capital to lure Bill Belichick from the New England Patriots. Now, that won't be the case.
Acquiring Belichick would instantly legitimize the ambitious plans Josh Harris' ownership group have for the Commanders. He's still widely revered in league circles despite some struggles over the last two seasons. Adding the head coach and keeping their draft assets is a major boost if Washington wants to go in this direction.
Con No. 1
Bill Belichick's power
Bill Belichick the coach is a remarkable individual. There are very few around the league that can match his prolonged success. Everything runs its course over time. It's been clear for a while that a fresh start was the best possible solution for him and the New England Patriots.
The Washington Commanders should be doing their due diligence on Belichick, at the very least. His reputation alone dictates as much. There are some concerns from the outside looking in. These primarily center on the power he'd likely demand.
Much has been made about Belichick's complete rule in New England. He held the positions of head coach and general manager. He was in charge of roster building and developing players. While it brought significant success in the past, his decision-making has been called into question almost from the moment Tom Brady departed for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Belichick recently stated that he'd be willing to relinquish power to a general manager and focus on coaching if the situation presented itself. This seems almost a prerequisite for the Washington Commanders to have a legitimate interest in bringing him into the organization.
Josh Harris is looking to mold the traditional approach to progress with the right structure in place after Ron Rivera got the final say on personnel over his four-year coaching tenure. If Belichick ends up talking to Washington's brain trust and wants more power than they are willing to allocate, it seems like a non-starter.
Pro No. 2
Bill Belichick's credentials are unmatched
The Washington Commanders have enjoyed nothing but abject misery over the last two decades. One could point to Dan Snyder's incompetent ownership as the primary reason behind their constant demise. Meanwhile - over the same period - Bill Belichick put together one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history.
Simply put, Belichick's credentials as a head coach are unmatched over 24 seasons. He's won six Super Bowls out of an astonishing nine appearances. He's got a 30-12 postseason record. In the regular season, it's 266-120.
This would have been even better had things not tailed off so dramatically over the last two seasons. Belichick is 15 regular-season wins from breaking Don Shula's record. That alone should suggest that he's got one more coaching gig before walking away from the game entirely.
What do fans want more than anything else? A good culture? A strong reputation for developing players? These are both desirable traits to adopt when forming plans for sustained success in a highly competitive profession.
The most important thing above all else? Winning. Something the Commanders haven't done consistently for a generation.
Belichick could change all that in an instant given how well Josh Harris has positioned the Commanders for success long-term. This hire would also make the entire league sit up and take notice as a sleeping giant gets set to wake.
Bill Belichick doesn't fit Commanders long-term plan
There's no doubt Bill Belichick will go down as one of the best head coaches in NFL history. His accomplishments might never be achieved again. It's also hard to look at his recent slide with anything other than concern.
The last two years have been disastrous for the New England Patriots. Belichick's coaching infrastructure has come under fire. His quarterback development and constant flip-flopping is another question mark. The defensive side of things remains strong, but much more is needed in the modern-day NFL.
Belichick is 72 years old. He still has a fierce desire to coach. In terms of being part of a long-term project, one has to wonder if he's the right guy for the Washington Commanders.
After a fourth-straight losing season under Ron Rivera, Josh Harris hit the reset button. A complete shake-up was desperately needed in the hope it could get this storied franchise back among the league's powerhouses. Belichick is an aging coach whose powers could be on the decline. The two just don't go together.
Of course, there's a chance for the Commanders to speed up their rebuild. They are rich in draft assets - including the No. 2 pick. They could have around $90 million to spend in free agency once sacrifices are made. They have some core foundational pieces to build around already in the building.
That could be enough to seek Belichick out for an interview to see where all parties stand. Watch this space, I guess.