Soon after Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots parted ways this week, ESPN’s Adam Schefter cautioned against assumptions that the six-time Super Bowl winner would fill one of the current NFL head coach openings. Think about a playoff team that could pursue Belichick after its season ends.
Fans and media immediately thought that the team could be the Dallas Cowboys if they failed to fulfill expectations. Team owner Jerry Jones has Super Bowl aspirations and the Cowboys looked poised to make a run at the Lombardi Trophy after finishing as the No. 2 seed in the NFC during the regular season.
However, in a shocking development, Dallas fell behind 27–7 in the first half of their wild-card playoff matchup with the Green Bay Packers. Barring a major comeback, it certainly appears that the Cowboys won’t advance to the divisional round. And that probably means coach Mike McCarthy will be fired.
On social media, nearly everyone seemed to draw the same conclusion. Belichick is going to be the Cowboys’ next coach.
Cowboys down 20-0. pic.twitter.com/8dr2EL134m
— John Ewing (@johnewing) January 14, 2024
Jerry Jones is scheduling Bill Belichick’s introductory press conference in Dallas at halftime
— Jack Pilgrim (@JackPilgrimKSR) January 14, 2024
Holy shit… Bill Belichick is gonna be the head coach of the Cowboys isn’t he? pic.twitter.com/bEq8pm7NyY
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 14, 2024
“Send the Jet to New England. I want Bill Belichick with a star on his chest tonight. Whatever it takes.” pic.twitter.com/1YekUlGUSG
— Football (@BostonConnr) January 14, 2024
Bill Belichick on his way to Dallas to replace Mike McCarthy after this game pic.twitter.com/qpGalN8I36
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) January 14, 2024
Jerry Jones is already asking for Bill Belichick’s cell number pic.twitter.com/QTh01xHpb2
— Crossing Broad (@CrossingBroad) January 14, 2024
Screw next year. Jerry Jones might have Bill Belichick coaching the second half at this rate.
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) January 14, 2024
Bill Belichick already cutting the sleeves off a Cowboys hoodie as we speak.
— Adam Rank (@adamrank) January 14, 2024
Jones going after Belichick looks like a matter of when not if. There isn’t a coach with a better championship pedigree available. And a team as talented as the Cowboys could get Belichick to the 15 wins he needs to break Don Shula’s all-time record for victories (347) sooner than with any of the other NFL teams currently looking for a new head coach.
Presuming Dallas doesn’t make a significant rally, Belichick and Jones might have an agreement before the end of the coming week.