The New England Patriots are having their worst season since Bill Belichick's first season in red, white, and blue. Honestly, it's worse than that, going back to when the Patriots finished Tom Brady's rookie season (where he was the fourth-string QB) 5-11. The last time the Patriots had less than five wins was 1992 when they used their No. 1 NFL Draft pick to take Drew Bledsoe.
This season, the Patriots are likely going to break that more than three-decade streak. The Patriots have seven games left, so theoretically they can get three wins there. However, they have two wins in their previous 10 games. They have their easiest remaining game coming off a bye to take on the lowly New York Giants.
With how bad this season has gone, it's obvious the Patriots are at least going to consider moving on. Whether it's a trade or if Belichick could possibly lose his job, he will likely keep his NFL career alive despite his advanced age. There aren't a ton of teams that Belichick should consider, but these three might make sense and could have openings this offseason.
3. New York Giants
This one makes sense on many fronts. For one, the Giants season has gone down the drain with no signs of stopping. The offensive line is a mess. Daniel Jones took seven steps back. No offensive weapons emerged outside Saquon Barkley. The defense isn't good enough. Nothing worked for Brian Daboll this season. He might get another chance after coaching way above his head last season, but in New York, second chances are seldom earned (unless you work for the Yankees apparently).
Belichick has always been tied to the Giants, even in better times. Many think he always wanted to return to the place where he coached to his first Super Bowl alongside Bill Parcells. There are even theories he might coach his heart out this weekend to secure a worse fate for Daboll and a better draft pick for the future.
The Giants might be desperate to make the most out of a team that has been middling for years since winning their last Super Bowl, ironically against Belichick, in 2012. This would be a Hail Mary move for both Belichick and the Giants, but it just might work.
2. Washington Commanders
This is the one where we're hearing the most rumors. The Washington Commanders just fired defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio and defensive backs coach Brent Vieselmeyer. Ron Rivera is coming off a blowout loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He seems like the most likely firing once the season ends. The Commanders are in a weird spot with an incomplete roster (that wasn't helped by the Chase Young and Montrez Sweat trades), and a lack of legit assets.
Still, with Josh Harris and his group going into its first offseason as owners, it's likely to make a splash. Belichick is a bigger splash than any player short of trading for a quarterback like Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson. Belichick changes the culture of this team. Even if his "Patriot Way" isn't landing like it once did, it would bring a stability to a franchise known for chaos.
The issue here is Belichick's desire to coach here. We imagine he doesn't come unless he gets control of the roster like he has in New England, and the Commanders might be the only team that lets him do that. Can he turn this roster around in one offseason? They do have close to $90 million in cap space without making one cut according to Over the Cap. They do have the ability to spend wildly but also intelligently.
There is definitely an opportunity here, and this would allow Belichick to stay on the East Coast. Also, the Commanders might offer the most money. While Belichick made plenty of dough in his career, money always talks.
1. Buffalo Bills
We haven't heard the Buffalo Bills mentioned for possible Belichick destinations, but it honestly makes the most sense. The Bills are facing pretty low odds to make the playoffs after losing an embarrassing game to the Denver Broncos. ESPN has the Bills at about a 39 percent chance to make the playoffs. If they don't make the playoffs, we see it being the last straw for Sean McDermott's career in Buffalo.
The Bills are the team closest to Super Bowl contention that might fire their coach this offseason. Unless we get a surprise Zac Taylor canning (which we highly doubt), this is the job high-profile coaches will want. Playoff failure combined with this season's performance (which includes a shock loss to the Pats) would lead to a new voice in that locker room.
Belichick would be downright smart to finish his career in Buffalo. He's been known to be somewhat petty in the past, so it would stick it to his former team to lead a division rival with no Super Bowl championships to their first title. He would be a legend in that market if he were able to do it. They love anyone who comes in and helps them succeed, even if they spent two decades hating that person.
What is actually the negative here? The only detractor is if Belichick actually lost his fastball and is making rash and useless decisions, like hiring his sons on his coaching staff. Still, we'd imagine the result is positive for the progression of Josh Allen and their team's short-term aspirations.
