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Tom Brady, Raiders Appear To Make Decision On Bill Belichick

Originally posted on The Spun | By Kameron Duncan | Last updated Jan 11, 2025 4:10 PM ET

ercegThe Las Vegas Raiders fired Antonio Pierce after one season as head coach, and they're looking for his successor after finishing 4-13 this year.

Las Vegas appears to be ready to hire soon, as they've spoken to multiple candidates already and plan to talk to more in the coming days.

Many of the usual popular names for this head coaching cycle are on that list, but one former coach with ties to ownership is not.

According to NFL media, the relationship between Bill Belichick and Tom Brady is reportedly not at a point where Brady would be willing to hire his former head coach.

Another major complication is Belichick's commitment to North Carolina, where he just agreed to become the full-time head football coach. Belichick would need to be bought out of his contract in order to coach the Raiders, and his buyout is set at around $10 million.

Raiders majority owner Mark Davis is no stranger to buying coaches out of their contracts, but taking Belichick away from UNC before he's even had the chance to coach a game seems unlikely.

The Raiders will also need a coach that is comfortable with a rebuilding team. That's something that probably wouldn't appeal to Belichick, who wants to win at all costs. Belichick is also close to the all-time coaching wins record, and time spent on a rebuilding team would only make breaking that record more difficult.

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 12: Head Coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels poses during a press conference on December 12, 2024 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

The Raiders will likely move on, but Brady's input on football matters to the rest of the front office as they continue the coaching search. They've spoken to several of the top names on the market, including both coordinators for the Detroit Lions in Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn.

The Raiders are set to enter a new era with, in all likelihood, a new franchise quarterback in a month. Hiring a coach that can establish culture and grow with the team seems like more of a priority than hiring a certain name or relying on an older veteran with past success.

For those reasons, Belichick is likely to stay at North Carolina before the Raiders feel he is a viable head coaching option.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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