Bill Belichick recently signed a five-year deal to become head coach at the University of North Carolina. However, that hasn't stopped multiple teams from inquiring about a potential NFL return.
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This group, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, includes the Las Vegas Raiders and minority owner Tom Brady. A source told Pelissero that Brady spoke with his former coach about what it would take to head to Las Vegas.
The Raiders fired head coach Antonio Pierce on Jan. 7 after his first full season leading the team.
According to Pelissero, Belichick's contract has a $10 million buyout if he leaves before June 1, 2025. The insider noted that it's unclear if this buyout would apply if Belichick returned to the NFL in the coming weeks.
Brady and Belichick have extensive experience working together. They were in New England from 2000-19. The Patriots went 219-64 with Brady under center — he missed all but one game in 2008 due to injury — while winning six Super Bowl titles.
Interestingly, the Raiders are not the only team making inquiries about Belichick. The report also noted that "at least one other team" has continued to check in on the head coach's status.
It remains unclear which team has joined the Raiders in the reported pursuit of Belichick. The list of teams with vacancies includes the Bears, Saints, Jaguars, Jets, and Patriots. The Cowboys have not yet made a decision about head coach Mike McCarthy, who becomes a free agent on Jan. 14.
The Patriots and Belichick mutually parted ways after the 2023-24 season, so it's easy to count out that particular team. Additionally, reports indicate that former Patriots defender Mike Vrabel is the frontrunner to replace the now-fired Jerod Mayo as head coach.
The remaining teams on this list have requested interviews with a wide variety of candidates. The Jaguars, in particular, have sent requests to Joe Brady (Bills OC), Aaron Glenn (Lions DC), Patrick Graham (Raiders DC), Ben Johnson (Lions OC), Robert Saleh (former Jets coach), Todd Monken (Ravens OC), Kellen Moore (Eagles OC), and Liam Coen (Buccaneers OC).