While it came as no surprise to anyone that Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots parted ways after their abysmal 4-13 2023 regular reason ended, nobody could have predicted that Belichick would fail to secure an NFL head coaching job for another team soon after.
Yet, that's exactly what happened — which has Rob Gronkowski suggesting that might be time for his former coach to take a break.
During a conversation with Fox News Digital, Gronk — who won three Super Bowls, earned four First-Team All-Pro honors, and went to five Pro Bowls during his nine years playing for Belichick — said, "I think Coach Belichick should take a year off from coaching. I mean, he's put his time in. He's been coaching for 50 years-plus straight, too, in the NFL. I mean, he can take a year off, reinvent himself, [go] find himself, go enjoy something other than just football.
"I think it would be great for him and then have him come back next year," Gronk continued, "resurrected and ready to go and put a display on wherever he lands a head coaching job next year."
So although Gronk doesn't believe it's time for Belichick to retire quite yet, he's suggesting that perhaps taking a year off, surveying the NFL head coaching landscape after the 2024 season, and deciding where the perfect fit might reside is the ideal option for the six-time Super Bowl winning coach.
Which makes sense — especially considering that Belichick has no other choice, if he only wants to coach in the NFL.
While Belichick interviewed for the once-vacant Atlanta Falcons head coaching position, the organization decided to hire former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris instead. With the Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Chargers, and Las Vegas Raiders all having found replacements for their open head coaching positions, that means both Belichick and his former player, Mike Vrabel, have been left on the outside looking in.
The NFL is going to seem strange next year without Belichick pacing a sideline each Sunday. Yet, with the league's insane turnaround rate for head coaching roles, we have to imagine that we'll see the stern and stoic Belichick back on the sidelines by 2025.
