Bill Belichick is “fully committed” to returning to coaching in the NFL, a top reporter says, as the legendary leader prepares for a season away from the sidelines.
Belichick and the New England Patriots parted ways in January after 24 seasons and he has not been hired for another head coaching position since, despite interviews with the Atlanta Falcons.
Still, the 72-year-old wants to “coach again,” according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, who made it clear that the eight-time Super Bowl winner (six times as head coach) has no plans to retire.
“He stays involved in the game,” he began on the Rich Eisen Show“He’s been doing roasts. He’s going to be on ‘Inside the NFL.’ We’ve seen him at various events, in high school, at the Manning Passing Academy. We’ve seen him at the University of Washington, where his son Steve is now the defensive coordinator.”
“He’s going to try to remind you that he’s not Darth Vader,” Pelissero continued. “That there’s more to Bill Belichick. He’s done a good job of that so far with his media exposure.”
Bill Belichick is ‘fully invested’ in his role as head coach, says Tom Pelissero
Belichick and girlfriend Jordon Hudson have stirred controversy over the age difference in their relationship
As Pelissero noted, Belichick will still be involved with the game next season as an analyst for “Inside the NFL,” along with Super Bowl-winning safety Ryan Clark, Pro Bowl wide receiver Chad Johnson and two-time Super Bowl-winning defensive end Chris Long.
But the Patriots icon apparently won’t stop at just talking about the action.
“He wants to chase the record for most wins of all time,” Pelissero said. “Those are things that really matter to Bill Belichick.”
He is currently the third most successful regular season head coach of all time, behind Don Shula (328 wins) and George Halas (318).
Belichick is 26 points behind Shula’s record, with 302.
Belichick and Hudson are seen disembarking from his boat on Nantucket Island last month
Pelissero’s update on Belichick comes as the coach continues a high-profile romance with 23-year-old Jordon Hudson.
The couple, who were spotted vacationing together in Nantucket this summer, went public with their relationship last month and have reportedly been dating since 2022.
TMZ reported that the couple met on a flight in 2021 and quietly began dating after Belichick ended his long-term relationship with Linda Holliday.
Their age difference has caused much controversy, although one insider claims Hudson has made Belichick “realize there’s more to life than just football.”