The Jets might need a head coach. Bill Belichick is on the market. Could that partnership materialize after Robert Saleh's firing Tuesday?
New York named defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich its interim coach after Saleh was stunningly ousted, giving the keys of a team that wants to win right now to someone without any head coaching experience. If those wins don't come, a coaching search would almost certainly follow.
Belichick, who parted ways with the Patriots in January after 24 years and six championships, has spent the season doing the media circuit, but reports have indicated he still wants to coach again. That could make the Jets a potential landing spot, but the 72-year-old's checkered history with the franchise might be a deterrent.
Here's what you need to know about Belichick's chances of becoming the Jets' next head coach.
MORE: Why the Jets fired Saleh | Jets coaching candidates | Who is interim coach Jeff Ulbrich?
Will the Jets hire Bill Belichick?
Belichick is interested in coaching next season, reports have indicated, but he's expected to be "choosy" with his next destination.
Many have speculated that the Eagles and Cowboys would be of interest to the future Hall of Famer, while Sports Illustrated reported the Jaguars could be a sneaky option for Belichick. All three teams have long-term quarterbacks in place. The Jets are in a bit of a different situation.
Aaron Rodgers could very well return in 2025, but his career is year-to-year at this point. Belichick and Rodgers have both praised each other in the past, but would a coach almost certainly making the final stop of his career want to tie his legacy to such uncertainty at the quarterback position long-term?
While Belichick and Rodgers might have a strong relationship from afar, they both have strong personalities and a history of stubbornness. The Jets might see it as too risky to pair personalities that have a high risk of clashing, especially if Rodgers and Saleh weren't on the same page during their time together.
More than anything, though, Belichick's exit from the Jets nearly a quarter-century ago might be why a return to New York is unlikely. Here's a look at his infamous 2000 resignation.
NFL HQ: Live NFL scores | Updated NFL standings | Full NFL schedule
Bill Belichick's Jets resignation
Belichick spent three seasons with the Jets from 1997-1999, serving as the team's assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. He was automatically promoted to head coach ahead of the 2000 season with Bill Parcells stepping down, but he delivered shocking news at what was supposed to be his introductory press conference: He was resigning.
Belichick's resignation note, written on a napkin, read, "I resign as HC of the NYJ."
The exact reasoning for Belichick's resignation never became clear, though he explained he was concerned by "various uncertainties" regarding Jets ownership.
Just a week later, Woody Johnson purchased the Jets. Belichick, already a free agent, was hired as head coach of the Patriots before the end of the month.
Johnson might not have been officially in charge when Belichick stunningly left the organization, but it's fair to wonder whether there are any hard feelings between himself and the coach who went on to torment the New York franchise for more than two decades.
