The University of North Carolina will officially announce Bill Belichick as its next head coach on Thursday, an unexpected move for one of the greatest coaches in NFL history.
After a year away from the game, it was expected that Belichick would receive a lot of attention on the upcoming coaching merry-go-round.
Among the teams speculated to have potential interest in Belichick was the New York Giants, assuming he would be moved on from Brian Daboll (and/or general manager Joe Schon) at the end of the season.
Belichick was never shy about his admiration for the Mara family and the organization, serving as an assistant coach and coordinator from 1979 to 1990. Despite two disappointing Super Bowl losses to the Giants, he always spoke highly of the franchise and its franchise. The former player greatly disappointed his own players.
But even if Belichick chooses to wait until Black Monday to assess potential opportunities, ESPN’s Seth Wickersham reports: The Giants were never going to play in the game..
Maybe it could work with the Giants, who spent the ’80s with them, but Belichick knew it would be a rebuild with the New York press hounding him. Additionally, he believes it is best for the team to retain current coach Brian Daboll.
Oh yeah, a seemingly permanent rebuild of East Rutherford. The reset button was pressed so many times that everyone lost count. Even Belichick’s love for the organization couldn’t overcome the reality he would have been caught up in.
But again, there’s no guarantee that that opportunity will come. The Giants have become a complete laughing stock, but co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch appear to be resistant to further changes, worried that they have become too impatient in recent years.
So, at least as of Week 15, the hope remains that both Schoen and Daboll will return in 2025 while Belichick leads the Tar Heels.
