At first blush, the notion that Bill Belichick would interview for a college coaching job makes no sense. After thinking it through some more, it does.
Here’s what I think Belichick is doing. He’s telling NFL owners to shit or get off the pot.
Any owner can talk to Belichick right now, about any existing vacancy or an eventual one. And if he’s going to end up with no NFL job after the 2025 coaching carousel comes to a stop, he’d rather know now — before the college jobs are filled.
It’s a simple concept. As far as Belichick is concerned, it’s nut-cuttin’ time. If you want me, let me know. Otherwise, I’ll take a college job.
Many believe he’ll land in the NFL. But he went 0-for-7 last year, with only one interview. It’s fair for him to want to know which way the wind is blowing, before a viable college opportunity blows away.
Selecting Belichick now would violate the spirit of the Rooney Rule. Everyone involved would have to keep it quiet until the team complies with the letter of the league’s interview requirements. Then, Belichick gets the job.
If he gets the job. If he gets any job. He’s flirting with college teams because, in my view, he wants to know right now whether a team is willing to make him its head coach (and maybe de facto G.M.) in roughly a month.
If he takes a college job, it will mean that no suitable NFL team was interested and willing to give him what he’s looking for.
It’s not much of a surprise, but Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb is planning to play in Monday night’s game against the Bengals.
Lamb has been dealing with a shoulder injury and did not participate in Thursday’s practice after aggravating it during the Thanksgiving win over the Giants.
“It comes with the territory, man,” Lamb said this week, via Todd Archer of ESPN. “It’s about being a baller and it’s about going out there and sacrificing, putting yourself out there for your guys. And that’s what I’m doing. As far as Monday goes, I’ll be fine by then.”
Lamb has caught 79 passes for 880 yards with four touchdowns this season. He had two catches for 39 yards in last week’s victory.
So much for Bill Belichick being obsessed with catching Don Shula.
The long-time NFL coach has interviewed for the vacancy at North Carolina. According to Pat Forde of SI.com, Belichick has been talking to UNC for “several days.” He has a “genuine interest” in coaching at the college level.
Belichick began his coaching career in 1975. He worked at the NFL level continuously through 2023. He has never coached at the college level.
But his father was a scout at the Naval Academy, and Belichick learned the game by working with his dad. It would be fitting at some level for Belichick to give it a try.
The bigger question is whether Belichick doesn’t think the planets will align to give him an NFL opportunity he’d accept. Last year, he received only one interview and no offer in the hiring cycle.
Possible 2025 destinations include the Jaguars, the Bears, the Saints, the Cowboys, the Buccaneers, and the Giants. All hinge first on the existence of a vacancy, and second on the willingness of the owner to hire a coach who turns 73 in April.
Control will be an issue. If he doesn’t get the keys to the football operation, will the person who has it be comfortable having Belichick work for him?
Belichick also will presumably want to go to a team that presents him with an opportunity to win. If he fails in his first stop post-Patriots, that will diminish his perceived greatness.
Of course, the college game is a different animal. Recruiting, NIL, limited access to players, etc. He’d need to accumulate a team of lieutenants with a different skill set than he’d need in the NFL.
Wherever this goes, Belichick doesn’t seem like the type to waste anyone’s time, especially his. It will be interesting to see if he interviews for other vacancies at the college level.
Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb is expected to play Monday night, but he missed the first practice of the work week.
Lamb aggravated his shoulder in the Thanksgiving Day win over the Giants, and he rehabbed the injury during Thursday’s practice.
The Cowboys also were missing left tackle Tyler Guyton (ankle/knee), right guard Zack Martin (ankle/shoulder), safety Juanyeh Thomas (knee) and linebacker Nick Vigil (foot). Martin will go on season-ending injured reserve this week.
Wide receiver Brandin Cooks (rest/knee), cornerback Trevon Diggs (knee), safety Malik Hooker (rest), linebacker Eric Kendricks (rest/shoulder), cornerback Jourdan Lewis (rest) and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown (hamstring) were limited.
Tight end Jake Ferguson had a full practice, and, now cleared from concussion protocol, will make his return to the lineup this week.
Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (ankle) had a limited practice Thursday, the team’s first practice of the week.
Chase played 97 percent of the offensive snaps Sunday when he made six catches for 86 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers.
Offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. (fibula), defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (illness) and linebacker Logan Wilson (knee) did not practice.
Wide receiver Charlie Jones (groin), wide receiver Tee Higgins (rest) and offensive tackle Amarius Mims (ankle) were limited.
Quarterback Joe Burrow (right wrist) were among the players who were full participants.
The Bengals play the Cowboys on Monday Night Football.
