The Atlanta Falcons are viewed as the most likely suitor for Bill Belichick if the longtime coach lands a new job, but Rex Ryan thinks it may be time to start looking at a different team.
Ryan, who coached the Buffalo Bills for two seasons in 2015 and 2016, discussed his former team during a Monday morning appearance on 98.7 ESPN New York’s “DiPietro & Rothenberg Show.” When asked what he thinks the Bills can do to get over the hump in the postseason, Ryan mentioned the possibility of Belichick becoming the head coach in Buffalo.
“This is the craziest thing: This might be the spot where Bill Belichick goes,” Ryan said. “I’m just saying, if ownership thinks (Sean McDermott has) taken this team as far as (he) can, which I’m not saying that they should do it, but this could do it. Who could take us to the next level? Well, Bill Belichick. And I’m not saying that it’s definitely gonna happen, but I would not be shocked.”
Sean McDermott just finished his seventh season as the head coach of the Bills. He has led the team to the playoffs six times and had just one season with a losing record. Fans are still frustrated, however, as Buffalo has now lost in the divisional round for three straight years.
The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Bills in the AFC Championship Game in 2020 and have knocked them out of the playoffs two more times since. Sunday night’s loss in Buffalo was the most recent for Josh Allen and company at the hands of the Chiefs.
Many have speculated that Belichick would wait until the postseason ends to see if a job becomes available with a playoff team. The Dallas Cowboys immediately became a team to watch after their embarrassing wild-card round loss to the Green Bay Packers, but they have since committed to Mike McCarthy.
A change in Buffalo also seems unlikely, but there is little doubt Belichick would have an interest in the job. The thought of the 71-year-old coaching a Super Bowl contender in the same division as the New England Patriots is enough to excite any NFL fan.
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