The Falcons' due diligence left them concerned about "an older, stoic coach who'd blow up the building."
For the first time in nearly 50 years, Bill Belichick won’t be coaching football this fall. That was not his intention.
The future Hall of Famer’s departure from the New England Patriots was supposed to make him one of the hottest candidates on the 2024 head coach market. For a moment, it looked like he’d take the helm of the team he’d once famously rallied against in Super Bowl 51, the Atlanta Falcons.
That deal fell apart, leaving questions as to why a coach with eight Super Bowl rings could spent the season in a broadcast booth instead of on the sideline. ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr., Seth Wickersham and Jeremy Fowler dug in to find out the truth and uncovered a Falcons team concerned about “an older, stoic coach who’d blow up the building.” They also gleaned new details about Belichick’s rift with Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who reportedly lost faith and trust in the man who’d transformed one of the NFL’s most forlorn franchises.
You can read the whole story here — and you absolutely should. Here are some of the key takeaways.
