Since the Patriots and Bill Belichick agreed to part ways in January, everyone has been speculating about his next stop. Which NFL team is going to give the six-time Super Bowl winner a shot? Even after all the coaching jobs were filled, the speculation began over who was going to be fired to bring in Belichick. It felt like it was only a matter of time before the greatest coach in NFL history was back on the sidelines.
However, reports over the past few days are suggesting that Belichick might not be returning to the NFL sidelines. Instead, he might be taking on a new challenge, running a college football program. Reports are circulating that the University of North Carolina is interested in bringing in Belichick as their next head coach. The two sides have even had multiple interviews.
Although we don’t know how interested Belichick is in joining the college ranks it does answer looming questions. Questions that have been following Belichick’s legacy around for decades.
Belichick Can Only Win With Brady
One of the major criticisms of Belichick is he can only win with Tom Brady. Even before Brady left New England for Tampa, it was consistently debated which one was more of the reason the Patriots won six Super Bowls. As of right now, people are more willing to give all the credit to Brady, rather than Belichick.
The main reason for this is what the two did without each other. In his three seasons with the Buccaneers, he had a record of 32-18 making the playoffs every season. As well as winning Super Bowl LV over the Kansas City Chiefs. Belichick on the other hand hasn’t enjoyed that success. In his nine seasons of coaching without Brady, he has a record of 65-82, only making the playoffs twice. Those playoff appearances weren’t anything special going 1-2 and never making it past the divisional round.
However, if Belichick takes the UNC job and succeeds that narrative of him not being able to win without Brady dies. Sure there are many differences between the college and NFL games. It doesn’t answer who should get more credit for the Patriots dynasty. However, it kills the narrative that Belichick can only win with Brady. If he can have success, winning conference championships and making playoff runs, it goes against the idea he can only win with Brady.
Is He Better Than Nick Saban
Belichick is undisputedly the greatest coach in NFL history. When you win six Super Bowls, nine AFC championships and make the playoffs 17 times in 19 years, it’s hard to argue that anyone is better. Now while he’s the best NFL coach, he’s not the undisputed best overall football coach. There’s even debate if he’s the best football coach of the 2000s.
This is because of the other football dynasty going on at the same time, the Alabama Crimson Tide. Led by head coach Nick Saban. In his 17 seasons, Alabama won six National Championships, nine SEC Championships, and eight seasons with one loss or less. An extremely impressive resume. The only dynasty that you can reasonably argue is at the same level or better than the Patriots dynasty.
The only thing holding Saban back from being considered the best overall football coach is his poor NFL performance. He was the head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2005-06. He went 15-17 never making the playoffs. If Belichick succeeds in college, then he can say he won at both the NFL and college level. Something that Saban can’t say. Putting him ahead of Saban as the best overall football coach.
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