The Jacksonville Jaguars failed to live up to expectations in 2024, and due to his underwhelming performance, head coach Doug Pederson could get the boot this season or next year. Bill Belichick has become a trendy name to replace him, but there's a chance he won't be available, based on recent news.
Grant Hughes of InsideCarolina reported that Belichick is a candidate to replace Mac Brown as the head coach of the University of North Carolina football program.
72-year-old Bill Belichick has interviewed with the University of North Carolina regarding its head coaching vacancy, per @GrantHughesNC 🤯
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 5, 2024
GOAT back? 🐐 pic.twitter.com/c0Yx58TQYd
This is a bit surprising because Belichick has made it clear that he wants to return to the NFL next year. Having won six Super Bowls (and appeared in two more), he would be one of the most accomplished candidates in the next hiring cycle, but that's precisely one of the reasons that he would be an intriguing option to replace Mac Brown at UNC.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated says that UNC wants a younger candidate but Belichick's football acumen would help him land the job. Moreover, he's done plenty of research and preparation to make the leap from the NFL to the collegiate level.
Just recently, insider Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports named Jacksonville as one of the three top destinations for Belichick. However, he's far from the only analyst who believes he would be a good fit. Dan Graziano of ESPN also believes the Jaguars could provide him with everything he would need to turn them into a perennial contender.
Bill Belichick wants to coach again, and I believe he will coach again.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) December 5, 2024
Here are three potential teams that would make sense, via @TheHerd with @colincowherd: pic.twitter.com/nJF3kkLnaZ
But even if Jacksonville ultimately passes on Belichick, he could still have demand for his services in the next coaching cycle. The Dallas Cowboys will probably be in the market for a head coach if they dismiss Mike McCarthy. The Las Vegas Raiders and maybe even the Cincinnati Bengals could be potential suitors for The Hoodie.
Why Bill Belichick would still be a candidate for the Jaguars despite the UNC news
Nobody will deny Bill Belichick comes with baggage. His inability to consistently replenish the New England Patriots roster with draft talent is probably the biggest red flag, but his penchant for relying on the same collaborators (Josh McDaniels, Matt Patricia) is also a reason for concern. Add the fact that he wasn't a trendy candidate in the past hiring cycle, and he may not have many suitors in 2025. Perhaps that's what prompted him to show interest in the opening at the University of North Carolina.
Having said that, Belichick could be using the possibility of moving to the collegiate ranks to increase his stock ahead of the next hiring cycle. If that's the case, the Jacksonville Jaguars shouldn't flinch. There's no doubt he can still coach, but the last thing the Jags want is to skip a properly run process for Doug Pederson's replacement.
Granted, it's not a given that the Jags will fire Pederson, but if they do, they must conduct a proper search and do due diligence. If Belichick does decide to take the job at UNC, Khan must simply scrape his name from their wish list. Simply put, Jacksonville will have no shortage of options, especially when you take into account that they'll be one of the most appealing openings due to the presence of Trevor Lawrence, and the vast resources the organization possesses.
The bottom line is that Bill Belichick should be a realistic option to replace Doug Pederson, but if he's not available, the Jacksonville Jaguars must simply set their sights on somebody else.