Belichick retires
It was the worst-kept secret in sports. But legendary coach Bill Belichick made it official on Thursday. He announced that he is retiring from the New England Patriots after 24 seasons and six Super Bowl titles.
The NFL did not miss a beat last year when Tom Brady retired, proving that no player is bigger than the sport. But no coach is either. The Patriots announcing Belichick’s replacement within hours reinforced this.
Who knew the “legend” that is Belichick was so replaceable? But you’d think the Patriots would’ve waited at least a week for the sports world to eulogize him – if only out of respect.
Perhaps even they attribute his legendary status more to Brady’s quarterbacking prowess than his coaching skills. After all, the Patriots have had little to celebrate since Belichick drove Brady from New England. By contrast, Brady took his talents to Tampa, where he won a Super Bowl for the Buccaneers.
Jerod Mayo replaces Belichick
Lured into coaching by Belichick in 2019, [Jerod] Mayo became one of Belichick’s most trusted assistants. …
The Patriots wrote into his contract last January that Mayo would succeed Belichick as the next head coach. Because they communicated with the league that this clause existed, the Patriots were not required to conduct a full coaching search following the Rooney Rule, which typically requires teams to conduct in-person interviews with at least two external minority candidates.
(The Athletic, January 12, 2024)
Of course, I am happy for Mayo. But I’m concerned that reports about his contract might render that famous Rooney Rule meaningless.
After all, NFL owners can easily hire as an assistant the White guy they want to become head coach in a year or two. And, so long as they write that succession plan in that assistant’s contract, they can ensure no Black is ever hired as a head coach again. Not that all of them would want to, mind you.
Meanwhile, it’s a truism that anyone who succeeds a legend cannot possibly live up to expectations. Then, of course, there’s this prevailing prejudice: Black men have to perform twice as well as White men to receive the same recognition and appreciation.
Consequently, I wouldn’t be surprised if Mayo is given even less chance to succeed in New England than Brian Flores had in Miami.
What’s next for Belichick?
There was a dramatic red wedding of NFL firings this week alone. So Belichick will have more than a few options as the annual coaching roulette begins in earnest. And I’m betting he will land a new coaching job in Atlanta when it stops.
Moreover, Belichick is only 14 wins away from replacing legendary coach Don Shula of the Miami Dolphins for all-time wins. Therefore, any sports fan can appreciate why Belichick, even at 71, will want to continue coaching.
Except that, without Brady, those wins might be hard to come by. So Belichick should be prepared to be on the sidelines for at least two more years.