It was reported Wednesday that Las Vegas Raiders minority owner Tom Brady had “zero interest in hiring” Bill Belichick as the club’s next head coach. The two spoke at some point after Belichick became the head coach of the North Carolina football program and before Las Vegas hired Pete Carroll.
On Thursday, NFL insider Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk shared how Belichick allegedly feels about not being seriously considered for the Raiders opening.
“The talk in league circles is that Belichick wasn’t pleased, to say the least, that Brady’s Raiders went with Carroll,” Florio explained. “…Belichick can never say that because it conflicts with the narrative that he’s always been all-in with UNC. Despite the fact that he delayed signing his contract until last week and notwithstanding the fact that the signed contract still lets him walk away for $10M for four more months and $1M thereafter.”
Although Belichick “wasn’t pleased” with the development, one Raiders star went above and beyond to praise the Carroll hiring. Perhaps after Carroll’s recent comments, Belichick may feel differently.
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Tom Pelissero reported on Jan. 8 that Brady had spoken with Belichick during the ongoing hiring cycle “about what it would take to make a reunion happen in Las Vegas.” However, Tar Heels football general manager Michael Lombardi later insisted that the conversation was more so about Brady receiving “advice and counsel” than about TB12 trying to lure the six-time Super Bowl champion head coach back to the NFL.
Despite comments Lombardi has made about the situation over the past two months, the perception exists that Belichick officially accepted the North Carolina gig in December largely because he saw the writing on the wall and realized NFL franchises would pass on hiring him for a second consecutive winter.
“He’s perplexed by the lack of interest,” Florio added about Belichick’s reaction to being snubbed by clubs.
Florio and former NFL executive/current analyst Andrew Brandt are among those who have strongly suggested Belichick won’t receive a legitimate opportunity to return to the league regardless of what he does at North Carolina after he turns 73 years old in April. Whether Belichick likes it or not, it seems the NFL has moved on from the living legend.
