Asante Samuel 'relieved' that Bill Belichick didn't land Chargers HC job

Two-time Super Bowl champion Asante Samuel knows what it's like to play for Bill Belichick, which is why he didn't want the 71-year-old to be the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. 

Last week, Los Angeles filled its coaching vacancy by hiring former Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh. Meanwhile, Belichick was passed over for Atlanta's head coaching position and appears unlikely to have an NFL job in 2024. 

Speaking to former NFL defensive end Elton Patterson on their YouTube show "Say What Needs To Be Said," Samuel admitted that he was relieved Belichick won't coach his son, Chargers CB Asante Samuel Jr. It's worth mentioning that Los Angeles never officially interviewed Belichick, though the elder Samuel insisted that he was holding back his thoughts on the subject until the team found its new coach. 

"I had to play it off for a long time ... but the time is over now," Samuel said. "I did not want that to happen. Thank you, dear Lord, that did not happen ... There would've been issues. He would've had situations he would've had to overcome. He would've had to start from the ground up.

"Some of those things I don't think he would've understood how to deal with," Samuel continued. "You know, moving them around, putting the third string in, and playing these mind games. I don't want my son to have to deal with that, so I'm happy that coach Belichick didn't get to be the head coach [of] the L.A. Chargers.” 

Considering Belichick's defensive-minded approach, he wouldn't have been the worst hire for a Chargers team that allowed the fifth-most yards per game this season (362.9) if the franchise actually pursued him. However, it's not surprising that Samuel — who played five seasons with the Patriots and led the league in interceptions in 2006 (10) — was critical about the idea of Belichick coaching his son. 

Earlier this month, Samuel told TMZ Sports that it "would be crazy" if an NFL owner gave Belichick the GM power he had in New England. Additionally, the former All-Pro cornerback has been extremely outspoken that Belichick's success is solely due to seven-time Super Bowl champion QB Tom Brady, emphasizing such on multiple occasions.