What's next for Bill Belichick? Legendary coach is running out of options

The NFL's head-coaching jobs are rapidly getting filled, and legendary coach Bill Belichick is still without a job following his departure from the New England Patriots. The Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Chargers seemed to be the two most logical destinations entering the offseason, but those jobs have been filled over the past 24 hours by Raheem Morris and Jim Harbaugh, respectively.

Belichick had met with Atlanta at least two times before the team decided to go with Morris.

As of Thursday evening, the only two teams in the NFL that do not have a head coach are the Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks. 

So let's take a look at what his remaining options could be as head coaching jobs continue to be filled.

1. Get hired in Seattle or Washington

The easiest solution is the most obvious. There are still two head-coaching jobs open, but he would have to at least be considered a possibility for either of them. Washington has deep-pocketed owners who are trying to put their stamp on the once-proud franchise, and hiring one of the most successful head coaches in NFL history would probably bring more excitement to the Commanders organization than they've had in decades. He would also be in a position with the No. 2 overall pick to get a potential franchise quarterback to start rebuilding the team around. 

It does seem likely, however, that both the Commanders and Seahawks have their sights set on coordinators who are still coaching in this year's conference championship games and are just waiting for the opportunity to hire them. 

2. Take a year off 

This is always an option, and it is not uncommon for coaches — even successful coaches — to take a year off from the grind and come back during another hiring cycle. If he wanted, he could probably get a job with any network as an analyst. It could give him an opportunity to take a step back, re-evaluate his process and get a bird's-eye view of the NFL as a whole, and take another run at a head coaching job when more — and perhaps better — jobs become available next season. Perhaps even during the season if a coach gets fired early on after a slow start.

3. Another job opening up this offseason

At this point it seems like a long shot, but there is still the possibility of another team in the NFL that might feel it is only a head coach away from winning a Super Bowl, and taking a run at the guy who won six championships as a head coach. 

Is it really unreasonable to think that a team — like the Dallas Cowboys or the New York Giants, or perhaps even the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or New Orleans Saints — sees a future Hall of Fame coach still available and decides that maybe it should re-evaluate retaining its current coach?

Would the Buffalo Bills brass look at a team that has made just one AFC Championship Game (and zero Super Bowls) with Josh Allen consider upgrading on Sean McDermott?

4. Retirement

This might be the least likely of the potential options. He needs just 15 wins to become the winningest head coach in NFL history, and the fact he interviewed with Atlanta makes it seem like coaching is still very much on his radar. Being so close to the all-time wins record has to be a big motivating factor, and it makes it difficult to imagine him just walking away from coaching entirely. 

Whatever path he ultimately follows, this is not the offseason anybody anticipated for Belichick. There was always a belief that if he were to ever become available, he would have another head-coaching job almost immediately.

It has not worked out that way, whether due to his own personal preference or other teams wanting to go in different directions.