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Former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick is viewed as a long shot for the Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks coaching vacancies, league sources said, opening the possibility that the second-winningest coach in the history of the NFL will be left without a team in 2024.
The chances of that happening increased Thursday when the Atlanta Falcons, the only team to interview Belichick this offseason, decided to hire Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.
A change of direction would be necessary for anything to happen with the Commanders or Seahawks, according to league sources. The other six head coaching vacancies this offseason have already been filled.
Going into the 2023 season, it was more or less accepted that Belichick would remain with the Patriots for as long as necessary to supplant the late Don Shula as the winningest coach in NFL history. But Belichick and New England parted ways after going 4-13. Belichick interviewed with the Falcons twice last week.
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Counting the regular season and playoffs, Belichick has 333 victories as a coach. This leaves him with 15 wins as a coach after surpassing Shula, who won 347 games as coach of the Baltimore Colts and Miami Dolphins.
Time is becoming Belichick’s enemy as he seeks to break the record. He will turn 72 on April 16.
If Belichick does not coach in any capacity in 2024, he will end a streak of 49 consecutive seasons on an NFL coaching staff. He began his career as a “special assistant” with the Baltimore Colts in 1975 under head coach Ted Marchibroda.
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(Photo: Chris Unger/Getty Images)