NFL Rumors: This Contender Eyed Bill Belichick After Patriots Exit

Bill Belichick will spend the 2024 season away from NFL sidelines, but the future Hall of Fame coach had options to stay in the league once he left New England.

That's right, options. Plural.

Kyle Shanahan was very open about his interest in bringing Belichick onto the 49ers' coaching staff, but the Patriots legend passed on the potentially fruitful opportunity to kickstart a career in media. And according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Belichick made the same call when he drew interest from the Rams, who needed a new defensive coordinator once Raheem Morris left Los Angeles to become head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.

The Rams' reported interest in the eight-time Super Bowl champion made sense. Sean McVay had a front-row seat to the defensive mastermind that is Belichick in Super Bowl LIII when New England limited an electrifying LA offense to only three points. And if there's anyone who could keep a unit humming after losing a superstar like Aaron Donald, it might be Belichick.

Los Angeles' backfill for Morris proved to be pretty ironic. McVay promoted Chris Shula, whose legendary grandfather owns the NFL's all-time coaching wins record that Belichick apparently covets. The 72-year-old reportedly wants to return to coaching next year, and if he does, he will put himself back on track to make history.