Bill Belichick has reportedly drawn interest from more than one team with a head-coaching vacancy, but is it possible the head coach could be eyeing a job that is not yet available?
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported on Sunday that Belichick is “clearly” waiting to see if any current playoff team decides to move on from their head coach before the 71-year-old considers taking another job.
“Here’s an interesting thing to consider: What if Bill Belichick’s future team is still playing in the playoffs?” Rapoport said. “Every year, there’s a team that makes the playoffs and has a performance that is so dramatic and horrific that the owner considers making a coaching move. That clearly is what Belichick and many of his assistants are still watching.”
Rapoport then hinted that the Dallas Cowboys could be a team to watch. You can hear more below at around the 1:34 mark:
Belichick and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones have long been admirers of one another. If the Cowboys decide to move on from Mike McCarthy, Belichick might have interest in the job. It seems highly unlikely that Dallas will make a change, however.
Jones is hoping for a deep playoff run after the Cowboys went 12-5 during the regular season. Dallas got to the divisional round last year and looks even better this season, so expectations are high. That does not necessarily mean McCarthy will be fired if Dallas has another disappointing finish.
The Cowboys gave Jason Garrett 10 seasons. It felt like he was on the hot seat for at least half of them. Jones and company would have to be certain that Belichick could do better than McCarthy with the same roster to justify firing McCarthy following three consecutive 12-5 seasons.
Dallas is not the only playoff team that Belichick has been linked to.
More must-reads: