Could Bill Belichick Bring Bill O'Brien With Him to Falcons?

With Bill Belichick looking for his next coaching job, which could be with the Atlanta Falcons, reports are emerging about what his coaching staff could look like.

With the Dallas Cowboys reportedly opting against joining the Bill Belichick sweepstakes and instead giving their current coach, Mike McCarthy, another season, it seems a path to the Atlanta Falcons hitting on their "big swing" at the six-time Super Bowl champion has become even clearer.

After the legendary former New England Patriots coach interviewed with the Falcons on Monday, more and more details are emerging about what his potential staff could look like. 

After a report that stated two former NFL coaches and longtime Belichick confidants could be following him, Josh McDaniels and Joe Judge, the latest from Mike Giardi of Boston Sports Journal has heard differently about who could be his offensive coordinator. 

“Bill O’Brien has a year remaining on his deal and has enjoyed being back [in New England], but he is considered a Belichick loyalist and may want to move on with the man who — in part — helped bring him back, or at least green-lit the return (in 2023)," Giardi writes.

Jul 26, 2023; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick speaks to offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Bill O'Brien during training camp at Gillette Stadium.  / Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

Giardi even notes that the former Houston Texans coach still has aspirations of redeeming himself as the head man at 57. 

This past season has made it two times that O'Brien has worked under Belichick, with his first stint starting in 2007, where he rose from an offensive assistant to being the offensive coordinator in 2011 before leaving to become the coach at Penn State. 

Then, after 11 years away from Belichick, he moved back to Foxboro to serve as the Patriots' play-caller again. 

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And while O'Brien's return to Foxboro hasn't been the homecoming he may have hoped for, his history of working with younger quarterbacks outside of Tom Brady could be viewed more favorably than McDaniels. 

As the Texans coach, O'Brien drafted and developed Deshaun Watson for the first four years of his career. 

O'Brien's experience with a younger quarterback could prove valuable to a Falcons team that could use their No. 8 overall draft pick to find their next franchise guy.