Source – Bill Belichick inquired about Jets coaching vacancy

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  • Rich Cimini, ESPN staff writerDecember 14, 2024, 2:30 PM ET

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      Rich Cimini is a staff writer covering the New York Jets and the NFL on ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years and joined ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He is a former beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University. You can follow him on Twitter @RichCimini.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The New York Jets have a head coaching vacancy, and until this week Bill Belichick needed a job. It led to the unthinkable.

Belichick, who left the Jets in 2000, tormented them for two decades as the New England Patriots’ coach and recently made critical comments about owner Woody Johnson, who personally reached out to inquire about the opening, a source confirmed to ESPN on Saturday.

The Athletic first reported that Belichick’s camp had contacted the Jets, and the New York Post reported that Belichick himself was doing the investigation. There were no formal discussions with the Jets, who fired Robert Saleh on Oct. 7.

A source close to Belichick expressed serious doubt that he had genuine interest, suggesting it might just be due diligence. Belichick evaluated NFL openings and potential openings before accepting the University of North Carolina job, ESPN’s Seth Wickersham reported.

For years, Belichick has expressed disdain for the Jets, so a reunion was never a realistic possibility. It’s unclear now because Belichick was introduced Thursday as the Tar Heels’ coach, but it’s an eyebrow-raising development because of the history.

Belichick, in his various media roles, was critical of Johnson for his decision to fire Saleh just five games into the season. The fire dates back a quarter of a century.

After serving on Bill Parcells’ staff from 1997 to 1999, Belichick walked away from the Jets the day he was supposed to succeed Parcells, famously resigning as the “HC of the NY Jets.” Belichick quit in part because he didn’t want to work for Johnson, who had just bought the team.

Belichick sued to get out of his Jets contract, leading to a trade to New England, where he won six Super Bowls.

In 2007, the Jets whistled Belichick for illegally videotaping their coaches during a game, sparking the Spygate scandal.

On November 25, Johnson announced the hiring of The 33rd Team to assist in the Jets’ search for a new coach and new general manager. GM Joe Douglas was fired Nov. 19.

Saleh and Douglas were replaced by interim managers Jeff Ulbrich and Phil Savage, respectively.