Bill Belichick’s time as New England Patriots head coach could be coming to a close, and there has been a whole lot of speculation as to what his next potential destination will be.
ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio provided some insight into what the Patriots may be thinking and even suggested a possible landing spot for the legendary coach.
“They’re not going to fire Bill Belichick. They’re going to trade Bill Belichick,” Paloantonio said Tuesday on ESPN’s Get Up. “So, this is the big decision. [Owner] Robert Kraft and [president] Jonathan Kraft have to sit down with Belichick and say, ‘Alright, we have a big opportunity. You have an opportunity to perhaps go to the L.A. Chargers.'”
Remember: New England initially acquired Belichick in a trade with the New York Jets back in 2000, sending three draft picks (including a first-rounder) to the Jets in exchange for his services.
It would be a typical Pats move for the franchise to try and sell Belichick at a profit, so it’s entirely possible that the Krafts would want to trade Belichick for more than they acquired him for, even if nearly two-and-a-half decades have passed since they originally landed him.
The Patriots have gone just 2-8 thus far this season, which is tied for their worst start ever in the Belichick era. New England was 2-8 through its first 10 games in Belichick’s first campaign at the helm.
Overall, Belichick’s tenure with the Pats has been beyond successful. He has won six Super Bowls and has made nine Super Bowl appearances throughout his time with the club. Not only that, but he has led the Patriots to 17 AFC East division titles, including 11 straight between 2009 and 2019.
However, ever since Tom Brady departed via free agency in March 2020, New England has fallen on hard times, making just one playoff appearance and going just 27-33 in three-plus seasons.
As a result, many feel that Belichick’s illustrious tenure in Foxborough is nearing its end.
The Chargers would certainly represent an interesting destination for Bill Belichick, as they have an impressive young quarterback in Justin Herbert.
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