Bill Belichick's Top Landing Spots After Cowboys Retain HC Mike McCarthy for 2024

So much for Bill Belichick being the person to end the Dallas Cowboys' decades-long Super Bowl drought.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Wednesday the Cowboys will keep head coach Mike McCarthy for the 2024 NFL season, and team owner Jerry Jones confirmed the move:

Many fans thought McCarthy might be out the door following Dallas' disastrous showing in the NFC Wild Card Round. Belichick was then floated as a natural replacement given his track record.

Instead, the vacancy won't be opening at all.

Belichick at least has other options, some more attractive than others. Based on what's available, these franchises have the most to offer the 71-year-old.

Atlanta Falcons

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Drake London and Bijan Robinson

You can question whether Belichick is the right fit for the Atlanta Falcons. Based on the last four years, he isn't the best coach to guide an offense that might be in need of a new starting quarterback and has a bevy of young talent at the other skill positions.

But the Falcons are the right fit for Belichick.

Team owner Arthur Blank has tried and failed to land some marquee coaches in the past, and The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported on Jan. 11 the Falcons "have been interested in landing Bill Belichick for weeks."

Days earlier, Mike Sando of The Athletic spoke to an NFL executive who said Atlanta was the "odds-on favorite" for Belichick, something that was largely echoed by The MMQB's Albert Breer.

If the Falcons are this fixated on Belichick, then it stands to reason they're the most likely to give him the level of personnel control he'll prefer.

Washington Commanders

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Commanders owner Josh Harris

The Washington Commanders were seemingly the leaders in the clubhouse for Belichick before his exit from the New England Patriots was finalized.

However, CBSSports.com's Jonathan Jones reported on Jan. 11 the Commanders aren't expected to make a serious pursuit. It makes sense because an organization looking at a significant rebuild may want a younger coach who's on the cutting edge schematically.

There's a lot that would appeal to Belichick if Washington reverses course, namely the fact Spotrac projects the Commanders to have more salary-cap space ($84.3 million) than any other team.

Making this franchise a playoff contender again doesn't have to be a three- or four-year job. A big turnaround could come as early as 2025 if the front office nails the draft and maximizes its financial flexibility this offseason.

Having all of those draft picks and cash to burn means Belichick could assume a more traditional coaching role in the nation's capital and still have a big say over the Commanders' direction.

Los Angeles Chargers

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INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 10: Justin Herbert #10 of the Los Angeles Chargers returns to the field during a 24-7 loss to the Denver Broncos at SoFi Stadium on December 10, 2023 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

As with the Commanders, the odds of Belichick landing on the West Coast could be slim.

In his report, Sando spoke with a coach who said the Los Angeles Chargers "want [Michigan head coach Jim] Harbaugh, and he wants them." ESPN's Jeremy Fowler added that the interest in Harbaugh was "real."

Los Angeles announced Monday it staged a formal interview with the national championship-winning coach.

Were Harbaugh to stay at Michigan or take another NFL gig—the Las Vegas Raiders have been linked—Belichick should make an aggressive play for the job, and he may have already subtly done so.

Fowler reported Tuesday on SportsCenter the surefire Hall of Famer "would likely target talented, yet underachieving teams." He mentioned the detail when breaking down the Falcons as a suitor.

But "talented, yet underachieving" is a label that has applied to the Chargers for years.