Report: Bill Belichick 'Wants to Chase Down' NFL HC Wins Record After Patriots Exit

Don't expect Bill Belichick to ride off into the sunset this offseason.

The Athletic's Jeff Howe confirmed the reporting that Belichick is out as head coach of the New England Patriots. He added that "sources close to Belichick have said this week they believe he still wants to chase down" Don Shula's all-time wins record.

The 71-year-old has 333 wins between the regular season and playoffs, with Shula sitting at 347 victories.

Belichick's time in New England came to a disappointing denouement. The organization simply failed to find an adequate replacement for Tom Brady after he left as a free agent, and the diminishing returns culminated in a 4-13 record this year.

The Pats' prolonged slide does raise some questions about whether Belichick still has it as a championship-level coach.

It also remains to be unseen how much the surefire Hall of Famer is willing to step back from player personnel matters. Bill Belichick the de facto general manager ultimately caused Bill Belichick the head coach's downfall.

Lobbying to stay on with the Patriots, the eight-time Super Bowl champion said he was "for whatever collectively we decide is the best thing to help this football team." Some took that to mean he was prepared to basically only be a coach, but he was far from definitive.

That will presumably be another consideration for any team that pursues him this offseason.

Beyond going for the all-time wins record, Belichick's divorce from the Patriots will provide him with ample motivation in 2024 and beyond.

Just look at Brady's first year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady seemed to be losing a step as his run with New England wound down, and then threw for 4,633 yards and 40 touchdowns in 2020 as Tampa Bay lifted its second Super Bowl.

Whatever franchise hires him is bound to have a short window with Belichick, but it could be more than worth it.