Why Falcons Shouldn't Hire Patriots Ex Bill Belichick

If recent reports are to be believed, the Atlanta Falcons are expected to be major suitors for now former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick.

After months of speculation, arguably the greatest coach of all time, Bill Belichick, is a coaching free agent after he and the New England Patriots mutually "parted ways" following a legendary 24-year run. This means that the Atlanta Falcons will have their chance to make a run at the very same man who helped deny them the franchise's first Super Bowl win.

But should the Falcons really make Belichick their next coach? 

On the surface, hiring who many consider the "best coach of all time" is a no-brainer for a franchise that hasn't even brought home its first Lombardi Trophy. But ... it isn't that simple anymore. 

Yes, despite the steep decline of the Patriots in the final four years of his 24-year run with the Patriots, Belichick's legacy remains intact. Yet, that doesn't mean he comes without questions. 

Potentially, the biggest of those questions is whether he'd be open to working just as the coach and not have the dual role of being the de facto general manager as he was in New England. Despite Terry Fontenot's absence in the Falcons' most recent press conference after Arthur Smith's firing, team owner Arthur Blank and COO Rich McKay reaffirmed his position as their general manager.

Former Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith (left) and now Ex-New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick (right) / Clutchpoints

"I think generally, most people would say we drafted pretty well over three years," Blank said about the Falcons' roster. "Generally, most people would say that our free agency, particularly this last year, which is really the first year that we had cap money to work with, generally would get high grades."

Despite the three straight 7-10 seasons, the Falcons feel they have the pieces to compete at the bare minimum in the playoffs. If that is the case, bringing in someone like Belichick could be a case of trying to fix something that isn't broken.

Then there is the question of whether he can be trusted to hire the right offensive coordinator to fix an inconsistent Falcons offense and potentially develop and nurture a rookie quarterback. If Belichick's experience in the post-Tom Brady era is anything to go by, it doesn't seem like he'd be the best candidate for upgrading the Falcons offense. 

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After a promising rookie season from former first-round quarterback Mac Jones in 2021, his steep regression can be blamed on multiple factors, like the failure to surround him with a capable supporting cast. All of that goes along with the inexplicable decision to make two previously non-offensive coordinators, Matt Patricia and Joe Judge, the de facto play-callers a season ago. 

While Belichick's longtime and most successful offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, is now available following his failed stint as the Las Vegas Raiders coach, it'd be much more appealing to see the Falcons hire a coach or offensive mind from the all too familiar Kyle Shanahan or Sean McVay coaching trees.

Hiring an offensive-minded coach would potentially allow the Falcons to keep some form of continuity in the staff by retaining defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, who helped transform a much improved Atlanta defense in his first year with the team. 

While you can never say never when it comes to the NFL these days, it seems unlikely that Nielsen would be retained if the Falcons go with Belichick, and rightfully so, considering the legendary coach has his way of doing things on that side of the ball. 

Belichick 'Big Swing' Hire Planned by Falcons?

Hiring Belichick certainly would be a statement of intention from the Falcons, who, with an 82-year-old owner, certainly want to do everything they can to win a Super Bowl. However, we'd argue that hiring Belichick, 71, would be a very short-sided and "win-now" decision, especially considering the quarterback position is a major question.

After spending the last three years rebuilding their roster in the hope of building a long-term contender, getting a 71-year-old Belichick, who may not be coaching in three to four years, wouldn't make much long-term sense.