For the first time since 2009, the New England Patriots were ousted from the postseason during Wild Card weekend in a 20-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans.
Cue the rumor mill.
What seems to be the end of the Patriots’ dynasty immediately called the futures of quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick into question.
The 42-year-old Brady had one of his worst statistical seasons as a pro, resembling more of a liability for a Patriots team that was built around defense rather than the potent offensive attack that was commonplace for the last two decades. Following Saturday’s loss to the Titans, he said retirement was “pretty unlikely,” as he enters an offseason as an unrestricted free agent.
As for Belichick, the long-time head coach is nearing his end at the helm of the Patriots, whether that comes this offseason or in the following few.
Could that mean a long-awaited reunion with the New York Giants?
If it were to happen, now would be the time.
The Giants are in the midst of an extensive coaching search after parting ways with Pat Shurmur — the franchise’s third permanent head coach in the last five years.
It appears upper management is leaving no stone left unturned as numerous names ranging from Mike McCarthy to Jason Garrett, to Wink Martindale, to Josh McDaniels are up for consideration.
Belichick’s resume speaks for itself, which would make him the overwhelming top choice for the job if he found himself looking for a change of scenery.
The 67-year-old started his NFL coaching career with the Giants, developing into one of the game’s brightest defensive minds as the coordinator who helped head coach Bill Parcells win a pair of Super Bowls in 1987 and 1991.
While it’s been 30 years since he’s worked with the organization, the usually tight-lipped Belichick has always made his love for the Giants known.
“There are a lot of teams I don’t have that much affection for. Giants Stadium, the locker room is on the left and I always feel like I should be turning left,” he told The New York Times back in 2008. “And I’ve been turning right for a lot of seasons now. We all move on. But it hits you right there when you come out of the ramp and into the tunnel. The locker room was right there on the left, for all those years.”
A year later, while filming a segment at Giants Stadium for the NFL Films documentary, “A Football Life: Bill Belichick,” the reserved head coach became emotional.
“I probably wouldn’t have thought it would turn out like this,” he said. “I was just trying to establish my coaching career, win some games. We won a lot of them here. This is a great organization. It’s hard not to get choked up about it. I loved it here. I loved it here.”
At the moment, there is no indication that the Giants would mount a pursuit for Belichick. Despite a disappointing season, he is still leading the greatest dynasty that the NFL has ever seen. So it wouldn’t be so easy to make a big-time offer to coax him out of New England.
As noted by the New York Post’s Pat Schwartz, Belichick would also want to bring in his general manager in Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio.
It would hypothetically force the Giants to pivot from their loyalty to current general manager Dave Gettleman, who was deemed safe shortly following Shurmur’s dismissal.
Granted, Giants fans would have no problems showing Gettleman — amongst others — the door if it meant getting Belichick back to the Meadowlands.
