Bill Belichick’s rumored NY Jets interest exposes his NFL desperation

Bill Belichick hates the NY Jets. His animosity toward his longtime AFC East rivals has been well-documented over the years, and the idea that he would ever choose to return to his former NFL team seemed like a work of pure fiction.

But desperate times call for desperate measures. And Bill Belichick in the year 2024 is apparently as desperate as they come.

The former New England Patriots coach personally reached out to the Jets about their vacant head coach position before agreeing to join the University of North Carolina, per The Athletic's Dianna Russini. Multiple insiders have since confirmed Russini's report.

Belichick put out feelers to a number of NFL teams, but many were surprised to learn the Jets were one of them. The fact that he was willing to put aside his hatred for not only the Jets but also owner Woody Johnson is proof that Belichick had reached a new level of desperation.

Bill Belichick was so desperate he reached out to the NY Jets

Belichick's longstanding feud with the Jets needs no introduction. He's often been seen as the greatest adversary in franchise history, and Belichick has gone out of his way to torment the organization, both during his career and after.

The coach-turned-analyst openly mocked and criticized owner Woody Johnson for his short-sighted decision to fire Robert Saleh just a few months ago. Belichick has been outspoken about how he would have zero desire to ever work for the Jets again in any capacity.

He's done everything he can to burn that bridge, but with NFL interest in him at an all-time low, he resorted to his final option. Belichick personally called the Jets, quite possibly Johnson himself, and asked about a potential job offer.

The Jets reportedly met Belichick with hesitancy, telling the former Gang Green assistant that the team was still in the early stages of their head coach hiring process. In short, they essentially rejected him.

Belichick's lack of interest likely stems from the degree of control he desires. Any team hiring Belichick would have likely been forced to hand over the keys to the entire regime. He would be both the head coach and the top front-office executive.

That was more than seemingly every team, the Jets included, was willing to offer a 72-year-old Belichick at this stage of his career. That's what led him to the college ranks, where he will have total authority over everything that happens at North Carolina.

A Bill Belichick return to Florham Park would have delivered one of the wildest NFL storylines ever. However, in a surprising twist, the Jets had no interest in their longtime enemy. The irony is palpable.

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