Bill Belichick linked with potential return to NFL, AFC North

The future of former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh has generated plenty of sports-talk discussions ever since he was shockingly fired this past Tuesday. 

Somewhat lost in the shuffle has been the fact that the Ravens need a new head coach for the first time since Harbaugh accepted the job in 2008. On Wednesday, Ravens reporter Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic suggested that North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick could be considered a candidate to replace Harbaugh in Baltimore. 

Bill Belichick has connections to Ravens

"It’s probably a long shot, but given his friendships with [Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti] and Ravens executive vice president Ozzie Newsome and his Annapolis roots, it’s not hard to make the connection," Zrebiec wrote about a potential Belichick-Ravens marriage. "Belichick has always professed his respect for how the Ravens do business, and it’s hard to imagine a better situation for him if he’s determined to return to the NFL and make a run at his seventh Super Bowl ring as a head coach."

As noted by the New England Patriots' website, Belichick was raised in Annapolis long before he completed his first NFL head-coaching stint with the Cleveland Browns in the 1990s. The living legend is still just 15 wins away from breaking Don Shula's NFL record for career victories earned by a head coach (including the regular season and the playoffs). Belichick reportedly would owe North Carolina a $1M buyout, pennies for an NFL owner, if he left the school for a return to the league.

For what it's worth, Belichick insisted earlier this week that he is "building a good program" and is "excited" about what he can achieve at North Carolina. Clearly, some within the football community believe he'd be open to having a chat if Bisciotti made the phone call. 

Could Bill Belichick be what Lamar Jackson has been missing? 

Quarterback Lamar Jackson and other Ravens players allegedly lost faith regarding how far Harbaugh could guide them after Jackson accumulated a postseason record as a starter of 3-5 under Harbaugh. One wonders how Jackson and Co. would feel about working for a six-time Super Bowl champion head coach who is regarded by many as the greatest of all time in his profession. 

"Belichick, who started his coaching career as a Baltimore Colts assistant in 1975, turns 74 in April — and he’d be a lot for the Ravens to take on," Zrebiec continued. "However, if they are looking for a transitional coach to keep the Super Bowl window open for a few more years, they won’t find a more accomplished option."