If Bill Belichick Fired? Early List of New England Patriots' Coach Candidates

After further humiliation at the hands of the New Orleans Saints, it's fully fair for the New England Patriots to start speculating about Bill Belichick's successor.

In the midst of his 24th season at the helm of the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick is still managing to show the Foxborough faithful things they probably haven't seen before. 

These new brands of history, however, are events that supporters more than likely could've gone without seeing.

Fresh off their first loss of at least 35 points since 1993, Belichick and the Patriots endured an arguably worse defeat upon coming home to Gillette Stadium on Sunday: the equally-reeling New Orleans Saints put up a 34-point shutout in the early portions of the NFL's Week 5 action. While a goose egg appeared on Gillette's scoreboard fairly recently (October 2016), the Patriots are 1-4 for the first time since Belichick's debut season in 2000 and the first time that the "New England" version dropped consecutive games by a five-touchdown margin since "Boston" did so in 1970. 

Bill Belichick's job security with the New England Patriots is a legitimate question for the first time in over two decades / USA TODAY SPORTS

Belichick will likely never have to break out his wallet at the shops at Patriot Place. There's no doubt that a red jacket from the team's Hall of Fame will appear in his wardrobe next to the gold one that comes from Canton. One can also assume that, no matter how far the Patriots fall this season, Belichick has at least done enough to avoid the indignation of a mid-season firing (New England's last in-season departure was Ron Meyer in 1984).

But there's doubt that the Patriots need to think about the next wearer of their top headset ... if they haven't done so already.

This is one of countless questions that will be asked in the aftermath of embarrassment. But, at this stage of the game ... who would replace Bill Belichick?

(Candidates listed in alphabetical order)

Eric Bieniemy

Is Bieniemy's long-awaited, long-deserved opportunity his for the taking in New England after standing as their rival with the Kansas City Chiefs? He's currently looking to work off any potential stigma from working with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid with the long-downtrodden Washington Commanders. From a statistical standpoint, he's proving that his work in a different shade of red was no fluke: entering Sunday's action, Sam Howell was the NFL's leading passer at 1,349 yards, albeit with an extra Thursday night game under his belt. Bieniemy's no-nonsense personality also would be far from what Belichick has infamously established over the last two-plus decades.

Rich Bisaccia

Whoever succeeds Belichick will face an unprecedented challenge, as if taking the stage after a two-decade show from The Beatles at a music festival. If any candidate on the market has experience in that unique department, it's Bisaccia, who's two seasons removed from a brilliant interim performance at the helm of the Las Vegas Raiders following the infamous Jon Gruden email incident. Currently stationed as Green Bay's special teams coordinator, Bisaccia could be an unconventional yet reasonable answer to New England coaching prayers. 

Joe Brady

Could Brady return to the Northeast to save the Patriots? Yes, but not the one you're thinking of. At 34, Brady has already had a well-traveled, well-regarded coaching career. Under his watch of LSU's aerial endeavors, Joe Burrow rose to national prominence and eventually to the top of the NFL Draft board. Brady then partook the doomed Matt Rhule regime in Carolina but has since settled into the quarterbacks coach role with Buffalo, where Josh Allen has put up the best numbers of his career. After 20-plus years of hoodies, the Patriots could use a literal fresh face wearing the top visor.

Brian Johnson

If the Patriots do stick with Mac Jones under center ... hardly a guarantee ... the Philadelphia Eagles' offensive boss should be at the top of their list. Another young face in the fold, Johnson bounced around the college ranks for several years and is perhaps best known to young fans as a former "NCAA Football" cover athlete for EA Sports. The former Utah quarterback already has one young reclamation project to his name, having helped Jalen Hurts rise up the passing stock boards after taking over for the Indianapolis-bound Shane Steichen. 

Mike Kafka

The New York Giants' downfall could diminish the job Brian Daboll and his staff pulled off last season but Kafka has proven to be a proverbial quarterback whisperer since his own passing career ended. Kafka originally worked with a budding Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City and later guided Daniel Jones to a massive contract in New Jersey. Whether it's Mac Jones or a newcomer, Kafka could provide clarity to the storm under center.

Jerod Mayo

At the start of the season, Mayo would've been the odds-on favorite to succeed Belichick. Many have viewed the former Patriots defender and current inside linebackers boss as the heir apparent to Belichick. That idea was given further credence when he inked a contract extension in lieu of exploring the open head coaching market. But if the Patriots do the formerly unthinkable, it stands to reason that they'd want to clean house entirely. Mayo is far from the primary culprit in the Patriots' demise but mere association with the Belichick name is turning toxic in Foxborough.

Bill O'Brien 

It's more than safe to say that bringing O'Brien back to Foxborough's sidelines has not had the desired effect. But there's no denying that the head coaching interview process loves Whether it's fair or not, he would probably at least get an interview if and when New England opts to move on from his longtime collaborator Belichick. Even if relative nepotism would play a role and his decisions as a general manager left too much (or, from a roster standpoint, too little), he does deserve credit for making things work at the helm of the tumultuous Houston Texans (four playoff trips, two wins in six-plus seasons). Like other names on this list, O'Brien has also fostered a high-profile quarterback in Deshaun Watson, who has now dealt with a laundry list of legal and inconsistency issues since moving onto Cleveland. 

Dan Quinn

It's a bold move to promote a defensive boss in this professional football day and age but Quinn has proven himself well-worthy and then some. Until the Patriots evaporate the gaping void under center, the team's success runs through Christian Gonzalez and Matthew Judon (both of whom are likely medically ... and mercifully ... spared from further 2023 activities). It'd be intriguing to see their respective primes overseen by Quinn, who passed a de facto stress test when his Dallas Cowboys defense bestowed the aforementioned 35-point shellacking at AT&T Stadium last weekend.

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