By CHARLES ODUM (AP Sports Writer)
ATLANTA (AP) — Bill Belichick signaled he’s able to get again to teaching lower than per week after parting with the New England Patriots, talking with the Atlanta Falcons about their vacant place.
The Falcons introduced Monday evening they’ve interviewed the 71-year-old Belichick, who left the Patriots on Thursday after 24 seasons and a file six Super Bowl championships.
The fifth of these Super Bowls got here almost seven years in the past towards the Falcons in a sport Atlanta led 28-3 within the third quarter earlier than Tom Brady rallied the Patriots to a 34-28 time beyond regulation victory.
The Falcons are looking for a successor to Arthur Smith, who was fired shortly after the conclusion of his third straight 7-10 season. Atlanta launched no particulars on the interview with Belichick, which was believed to have been performed in individual.
The Falcons had beforehand performed digital interviews with 5 candidates, solely one in all whom has head teaching expertise. Including the playoffs, Belichick has 333 victories, second all-time to Hall of Famer Don Shula’s 347. He led the Patriots to 17 division titles.
Belichick had management of participant personnel choices with New England. If he joins the Falcons, Belichick would both should agree to teach with out that management or the Falcons must change their administration construction.
At the brand new convention on Jan. 8 to debate the firing of Smith, Falcons proprietor Arthur Blank and CEO Rich McKay represented the crew. General supervisor Terry Fontenot was not current. Blank stated he and McKay would lead the seek for a coach, with enter from Fontenot, and Blank was clear that he expects the brand new coach and Fontenot to every report back to McKay, as was the case with Smith and Fontenot. Blank stated Fontenot would proceed to be in control of personnel.
“If you look at a traditional table of organization, they both report to Rich McKay, and we’ve been clear about that,” Blank stated.
Belichick’s problem changing Brady at quarterback in New England was much like Atlanta’s struggles after Matt Ryan. The Falcons went backwards and forwards between Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke this season, whereas the Patriots had little success with both Mac Jones or Bailey Zappe.
The Patriots are 29-39 since Brady departed following the 2019 season, together with 4-13 this season. The Falcons haven’t had a successful season since 2017.
The candidates to interview nearly with the Falcons are Baltimore Ravens assistant head coach and line of defense coach Anthony Weaver, Carolina defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, Cincinnati offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, San Francisco defensive coordinator Steve Wilks and Baltimore defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald.
Interviews with staff of different golf equipment have to be performed nearly earlier than the tip of the divisional playoff video games on Sunday. There are not any such limitations on groups conducting interviews with candidates like Belichick who’re now not employed by different groups.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com