When the New England Patriots fired long-time coach Bill Belichick after the 2023 season, attention shifted to what would be next for the NFL legend.

There were a whopping seven head coaching vacancies – excluding the Patriots – during the 2024 NFL offseason. Some presumed Belichick would get one of those openings, or at least be a top contender for several as the lone six-time Super Bowl winner on the market.

Instead, the Atlanta Falcons were the only team to demonstrate considerable interest in Belichick. Once they hired Raheem Morris, it became clear that Belichick wouldn’t be roaming the sidelines for his 30th season as an NFL head coach in 2024.

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But a return to coaching in 2025? That seems like something the 72-year-old would welcome, if recent reports are any indication.

He is staying involved in the NFL by shifting his attention toward a media career, but Belichick would likely jump at the chance to chase Don Shula’s all-time wins record, a mark he currently trails by just 14 victories.

Belichick may not have drawn much interest during the 2024 offseason, but a year off could work wonders for his league-wide perception. Either way, NFL owners will be intrigued by Belichick’s decades-long history of championship-level success in New England and may be able to sell themselves on him replicating that success with their franchise.

Here’s a look at some of the top potential landing spots for Belichick should these positions open up at some point in the coming months:

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys have been teetering on the brink of success during the Mike McCarthy era, but it has never quite arrived. Dallas has struggled in the playoffs under the veteran coach, posting just a 1-3 record in its three postseason appearances while being upset in the wild-card round twice.

Belichick obviously has a better postseason history than McCarthy and would pair well with Dallas’ front office because of his good relationship with Jerry Jones. While Jones is notoriously slow-moving when it comes to firing coaches, the 81-year-old’s patience with McCarthy may finally wear thin if Dallas can’t go on a deep playoff run this season.

Jones may be more willing to make a move with a proven commodity like Belichick available. Imagining what the long-time Patriots coach could do with Micah Parsons alone might be enough to get the Cowboys owner to pull the trigger.

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New York Jets

The Jets going from a defensive-minded head coach in Robert Saleh to another defensive-minded coach in Belichick may not be what fans prefer, but it could work.

New York’s defense has played well under Saleh, routinely ranking as one of the league’s best during his tenure. Belichick would be able to keep that unit performing at a high level, which would help make the Jets competitive week-in and week-out.

Still, the biggest selling point for Belichick would have to come on the offensive side of the ball. While Belichick enjoyed a rocky few years at the end of the New England tenure, his experience managing Tom Brady would make him a suitable choice to manage Aaron Rodgers. If he brings in a young, up-and-coming offensive coordinator, the Jets may be able to get more excited about their offense than they have been with Saleh at the helm.

If Belichick simply planned on targeting retread coordinator hires, the Jets may sour on him. But at the very least, the Jets will probably give him an interview if they move on from Saleh after 2024. After all, Belichick was famously the one who got away back in 2000 when he joined the Patriots.

Philadelphia Eagles

Like the Cowboys, the Eagles came under fire at the end of the 2024 playoffs. Philadelphia endured a late-season collapse and lost in the wild-card round to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers despite being favored to win at home.

Nick Sirianni caught flak for the team’s shortcomings. It wasn’t enough to convince Jeff Lurie and Howie Roseman to part with him, but another middling season could have the Eagles considering a change.

Belichick could provide a welcome one, and his ability to develop secondary talent would particularly interest the Eagles, who have struggled in coverage since the beginning of the 2023 season. Additionally, pairing Belichick with a strong personnel man like Roseman would be smart, as it would ensure Belichick has ample talent with which to work as he focuses on fixing a Philadelphia team that appears out of sync on the field.

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New York Giants

If Belichick wants to win a championship, going to the Giants probably wouldn’t be his top choice given the team’s current standing. Still, he has a history with the organization, where he spent a decade-plus as a position coach and a defensive coordinator, so New York can’t be ruled out.

The Giants need more talent on both sides of the ball, especially at quarterback, but Belichick could mold their defense into a quality unit with time. That could help to reset New York’s culture and at least get the Giants on the right track as they deal with the consequences of the ill-fated Daniel Jones extension.

At the same time, the Giants’ roster looks a lot like the depleted one Belichick worked with during his final years with the Patriots, so he may not be the best fit for New York’s rebuild.

Los Angeles Rams

It’s difficult to see a scenario in which the Rams would part ways with Sean McVay. The only way he would leave the team is of his own volition. That said, he has spoken about taking an early retirement before, so his riding off into the sunset can’t be ruled out, especially if the Rams endure a difficult season.

Belichick would be an excellent replacement for McVay, in that case. Los Angeles has a ready-to-win offense when healthy but needs to rethink its defensive approach after Aaron Donald’s retirement. Belichick could provide the Rams with a blueprint for success on that side of the ball and would particularly thrive in finding the team some needed back-seven contributors.