Don't Overlook TV as a Possible Piece of the Bill Belichick Puzzle

With the 2023 NFL regular season over, it's time to wonder about Bill Belichick's future. While that scenario might have seemed impossible a few years ago, times have changed. Tom Brady left the New England Patriots, and things started to decline. When you just went 4-13, there isn't much room for resting on one's laurels.

Thus far, most of the speculation has involved NFL head coaching gigs. Maybe Belichick's body of work earns him the benefit of the doubt and he'll spend another season in Foxborough. Or perhaps the head coach's success has given him enough clout to leave the Patriots on his own terms. In that case, he'd instantly become a desirable free agent. And, if you want to get really wacky, there's always the possibility of a trade.

And while some have mused about the hoodie-wearing head coach finally retiring, there is another option at play: stepping into the world of television. That might not seem like Belichick's cup of tea, but it could be an ideal way to have his cake and eat it too.

Howie Long Thinks Belichick Fits on TV

If you're familiar with the legendary Patriots head coach only from a fan's perspective, he probably seems like a grumpy guy with no desire to engage with the media. But according to Howie Long, a former NFL player turned Fox studio analyst, Belichick might be a natural on the air.

"You rarely catch Bill and Bill's a funny guy. You just don't see it," Long explained on FanDuel's Up & Adams show in December. "If you play [in New England], Bill walks around, and he's a walking one-liner."

Long didn't just rely on his personal experiences, though. He also referenced Belichick making an old-time baseball reference to Julian Edelman and pointed our collective attention to the coach's guest appearance on College GameDay.

"I saw Bill in a small window on GameDay, and he was very funny," Long said. "You have to understand that Bill is a historian, not just about football but with sports in general, and grew up around the Naval Academy. He's really, really, really big on the military and the history and all that.

"For him to put that helmet on and kind of step out of the Bill Belichick mold and into kind of more of someone you can relate to...I'm sure Bill could do it if he wanted to."

There Are Some Benefits to TV Work

Again, it's easy to latch on to Belichick's gruff answers and general disinterest during press conferences as a sign that he wouldn't be cut out for TV. When you take the time to consider the bigger picture, though, things do come together.

First, it's safe to assume that the head coach isn't quite as grumpy as he seems. Beyond Long's points regarding personal interactions, we've also seen Belichick appear in official league endeavors like the NFL 100. And in those instances, we're able to see someone who knows a great amount about football and can convey it quite well.

Do you want to argue that a Sunday studio show requires a different skill set than a planned NFL interview? That's valid, but it's not as if we've seen Belichick freeze up the second cameras started rolling. And if he can unpack tape from decades ago, it's tough to imagine he couldn't handle modern football without breaking a sweat.

Beyond that, it's safe to assume that Belichick would have an offer waiting for him if he wanted it. While no one is quite in Brady's stratosphere, his massive deal indicates that networks are willing to pay big bucks to bring NFL legends into the fold.

It's also worth noting that TV doesn't have to be a permanent gig. There's nothing that says Belichick can't spend some time on the sidelines, getting the best of both worlds. He'd be able to stay engaged with the league without having to live and die with each game week. And given that he'll be turning 72 before the next NFL season and is coming off 24 consecutive seasons in New England, joining a studio show could be something of a working vacation. The living legend could spend time with family, enjoy his fortune and do a bit of NFL work on weekends.

If/when an opportunity presents itself, he can choose to take it. Being arguably the greatest living NFL coach comes with some perks, and one of those is being a front-runner in any hiring process you'd like.

After Week 18's defeat, Belichick was asked if the tough sledding of 2023 had dimmed his passion.

"I enjoy coaching," he replied. "I like coaching the team. I like preparing the team, game planning, coaching on Sundays. But the results weren't good. And none of us are happy with those."

And while you could interpret that as a sign that he's unwilling to hang up his headset, things don't have to be cut-and-dried. Maybe Belichick can scratch his preparation itch by following the league and getting ready for an insightful broadcast. Alternatively, you could focus on the fact that results weren't good, and use that nugget to suggest that the coach wouldn't be thrilled about taking over a rebuild. Maybe he'd rather wait for a more ready-made opportunity, where he can step in to get a capable team over the hump.

Or maybe he's simply ready to call it a (coaching) career. He has a résumé that rivals anyone else's in the game and has earned plenty of cash over the years. Just as television could be an intermediary step between the Pats and another NFL gig, it could also be a gateway to fuller retirement. Instead of quitting cold turkey, the coach could dabble in football for as long as he desires before turning the page.

But, when push comes to shove, this isn't just a coaching legend we're talking about; it's Bill Belichick and the Patriots. That means we probably won't know what's going on until the plan is already in motion.

As we wait and speculate, though, don't overlook the broadcast booth, at least as an option. The idea makes more sense than you might initially think.