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North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick reportedly isn’t in the running to be the Buffalo Bills next head coach
Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula made quite the aggressive and bold decision to fire head coach Sean McDermott last week.
Fans likely would’ve been more forgiving of the move had the team had a clear plan to replace McDermott.
But nearly one week since McDermott’s firing, it’s clear Pegula doesn’t have a Plan A, and most believe canning McDermott was a knee-jerk reaction to losing a game the Bills probably should’ve won against the Denver Broncos in the AFC divisional round.
Buffalo has already interviewed seven candidates for its head coaching vacancy, but there’s one who started to gain some steam in recent days that had Bills fans scratching their heads.
Are the Bills Really Considering Bill Belichick?
Several analysts believe North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick is itching to get back to the NFL. And after a 4-8 finish in his first season with the Tar Heels, few would likely blame him for wanting to bolt back to the pros.
But according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Belichick to Buffalo doesn’t seem to be in the cards.
“The Bills are casting a wide net when it comes to searching for their next head coach,” Florio reported. “But not wide enough to encompass the man who won six Super Bowls with a division rival. Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Bills are not interested in Bill Belichick.”
Florio stated that Belichick is considered “radioactive” around the NFL given the circumstances of his first year in Chapel Hill.
Aside from losing 8 of 12 games, Belichick also banned the New England Patriots scouts from the UNC facility and had an assistant coach suspended for NCAA rule violations tied to improper benefits.
However, Florio also pointed out the Bills don’t really have anything to lose by interviewing the six-time Super Bowl champion either.
“If the Bills are going to interview someone like Philip Rivers for the job, why not kick the tires on the Tar Heels head coach?” Florio asked.
Bills HC Candidates in the Running
GettyBills offensive coordinator Joe Brady stands with Mitchell Trubisky #11 and Josh Allen #17 at Lumen Field on October 27, 2024.
Buffalo has already interviewed seven potential head coaching candidates so far — offensive coordinator Joe Brady, former New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll, Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, former Colts quarterback Philip Rivers, Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, Washington Commander running backs coach Anthony Lynn, and Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski.
Of those seven, Brady and Daboll appear to be the frontrunners.
Brady has been the team’s offensive coordinator since 2023, and his close relationship with star quarterback Josh Allen us what could land him the job.
Daboll’s ties to the organization and Allen could also help him get the job as well. Daboll was Buffalo’s offensive coordinator from 2018 to 2021, and Allen had his two best years with Daboll running the offense.
However, a name gaining momentum in recent days is Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb. Buffalo reportedly wants to interview Webb but will wait until after Sunday’s AFC Championship Game (Denver is playing New England).
A coach that could come in and have a seamless transition with Allen is likely one of the most important factors the Bills are looking for in a McDermott successor.
Michael Gallagher Michael Gallagher is a sports journalist covering the NFL for Heavy.com. He has more than a decade of experience working for both local and national news outlets covering the NFL, NHL, NBA, WNBA, college football, and MMA. His work has been featured in Newsweek, Yahoo Sports, Fox Sports, Athlon Sports, The Hockey News, the Nashville Scene, SB Nation, and Yardbarker. More about Michael Gallagher
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