The NFL world had their ears perk up after interesting comments were made about New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. Those comments turned the rumor mill upside down, as some are wondering if Belichick would make sense for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Ira Kaufman and JoeBucsFan.com recently came together on Kaufman’s podcast. On the show, the two propped the idea of Belichick coaching the Bucs up and had some well thought out reasons why it might make sense for that union to happen.
Our pal @IKaufman76 and the folks at @JoeBucsFan have been kicking around the idea of the Buccaneers making a beeline for Bill Belichick. https://t.co/N6L6bjUZJn
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) November 9, 2023
Pro Football Talk went in on those reasons:
First, G.M. Jason Licht worked for Belichick in New England, and they remain on good terms.
Second, Licht is a survivor. His successful pursuit of Bruce Arians in 2020 might have saved Licht’s bacon. It also helped (along with the signing of Brady) deliver a Super Bowl win.
Third, Licht and Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien (per the Kaufman podcast) have the same agent. There were rumors, accurate per the Kaufman podcast, of the Bucs trying to hire O’Brien in the recent past.
Fourth, Bucs ownership has had a fascination with big-name coaches. They thought they had Bill Parcells in 2002. When he bailed out, they made the all-in trade for Jon Gruden. Per the Kaufman podcast, they’ve wanted in the past names like Bill Cowher and Chip Kelly.
While Florio facetiously mentioned that another factor – Belichick introducing Greg Schiano to the Bucs – should count against him, they are interesting points nonetheless.
Belichick still has to, you know, not be coaching the Patriots anymore for this to happen. But it’s always fascinating when these things happen. You never want to believe it initially. In this case, however, you might want to ensure there’s not a lot of smoke. You know what they say…
The NFL world reacted to the news.
He has shown what kind of coach he is without Brady.
Just retire, we're tired of him grunting.— Patrick Owen (@st_p2020) November 9, 2023
All you people wanting to get rid of the Coach/GM will be crying like babies the first season under a new one, I hope he stays another 10 seasons
— HANK (@NobodysHero1978) November 9, 2023
After he signed an extension with the Pats? https://t.co/81Jr5zo0Wz
— Sealander (@SealandRep) November 9, 2023
bill go to the bucs and win one more sb. LFG.
— baylock (@authorbaylock) November 9, 2023
About Chris Novak
Chris Novak has been talking and writing about sports ever since he can remember. Previously, Novak wrote for and managed sites in the SB Nation network for nearly a decade from 2013-2022