New England head coach Bill Belichick’s job security has become a hot topic lately — and ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky believes the Patriots legend already knows his next team.
While discussing A report from The Athletic indicating that Belichick and the Patriots were preparing to part ways, Orlovsky said, “I’ve been hearing more and more of that over the past week. I’m not a reporter, but I heard that.
“I’ve heard that will be the case. Who knows how likely it is, but I’ve heard it’s going to happen, and I’ve heard the (next) location is kind of set in stone as well.”
When forced to reveal a destination, Orlovsky didn’t flinch when he said, “I don’t care…I heard that.”
This isn’t the first time rumors of Belichick’s departure have swirled either, as Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio recently reported that new Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris planned to inquire after the season a trade for Belichick.
Bill Belichick’s future in New England is in question amid the Patriots’ down season
ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky said he hears Belichick has a new team in mind for next year
Washington Commanders owner Josh Harris may inquire about trading for Belichick
“There’s a theory that when the season ends, Josh Harris – the new owner of the Commanders – is going to call the Patriots and inquire about what it will take to get Bill Belichick,” Florio said during an appearance on The Zach Gelb Show on CBS Sports Radio.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the 71-year-old coach quietly signed a lucrative extension before the season and that his dismissal would be unlikely in the near future.
If Belichick perhaps had a future destination in mind, Patriots owner Robert Kraft could use the long-term deal as a way to recoup draft capital to help rebuild a Patriots team that has been riding to a record of 2- 8 has struggled, while also avoiding firing the best coach in franchise history if either side actually believes it’s time for a change.
Should a potential trade occur, it would also release the Patriots from any financial obligations to Belichick.
New England’s poor season also seemed to take another turn for the worse this weekend, as quarterback Mac Jones not only spent a quarter on the bench after being berated by his offensive coordinator, but also questioned his coaches’ decision-making seemed to pull.