According to ESPN’s Seth Wickersham, Belichick and his former New England Patriots assistants Josh McDaniels, Matt Patricia, and Michael Lombardi met weekly during the 2024 season to discuss NFL trends and coaching opportunities.
They agreed the Bears’ position stood out due to the team’s young talent, including rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, and a roster featuring stars like D.J. Moore, Tremaine Edmunds, and Montez Sweat.
Belichick praised the potential of the Bears’ core, particularly with Williams as the centerpiece, calling the opportunity to shape such a team "a coach’s dream."
Must read from @SethWickersham that says a group that includes Bill Belichick, Matt Patricia, Michael Lombardi and Josh McDaniels concluded the Bears were “unlikely to consider Belichick” and expect them to target Ben Johnson. https://t.co/R1yLSN7rxr pic.twitter.com/0eMAawtXii
— Adam Hoge (@AdamHoge) December 12, 2024
Despite his admiration, Belichick concluded he was unlikely to be considered for the role. Wickersham reported that the Bears are expected to pursue an offensive-minded coach, with Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson emerging as a top candidate to mentor Williams.
While Belichick was willing to relinquish control over personnel decisions, concerns about his compatibility with Bears general manager Ryan Poles likely eliminated him from consideration.
“Was Belichick really going to abide by the philosophies of someone like Poles?” Wickersham questioned, noting the potential friction between Belichick’s track record as a talent evaluator and Poles’ leadership style.
When asked about the #Bears' offensive line, Bill Belichick takes shots at Ryan Poles' style of roster construction and the team's play calling. pic.twitter.com/tXFifmACbX
— Barroom Net | Aldo Gandia (@BarroomNetwork) September 16, 2024
After parting ways with the New England Patriots in 2023, Belichick has turned to college football, accepting the head coaching job at the University of North Carolina.
Photo Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
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