Last offseason, there was a stretch where it seemed legendary NFL head coach Bill Belichick was about to become the next head coach of the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons interviewed Belichick multiple times for their head coaching vacancy, and he was viewed as the favorite throughout the process. However, the Falcons ultimately hired Raheem Morris, which reportedly “blindsided” Belichick.
Now, Belichick has transitioned to broadcasting, and he might still be a bit salty about being passed over by Atlanta. During his weekly appearance on Monday Night Football’s “ManningCast,” Belichick took a shot at the Falcons’ front office for some mistakes they made this past offseason.
Bill Belichick Points Out the Falcons’ Tampering Penalty
Last offseason, the Falcons signed a number of notable free agents, including Kirk Cousins, Darnell Mooney, and Charlie Woerner. After these moves, the NFL investigated whether Atlanta violated the league’s anti-tampering policy.
The league ultimately found some violations, so Atlanta lost its fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the organization was fined $250,000, and general manager Terry Fontenot was fined $50,000.
The NFL stated that the violations were logistical and administrative, including direct communication with players during the two-day negotiating period when communication is only allowed between teams and agents. Atlanta acknowledged discussing travel arrangements or other logistical matters with the three players, violating those rules.
Discipline for the violations was less harsh than in past tampering investigations in part because they occurred within the legal negotiating period and only after the Falcons had legally agreed to terms with the players.
Well, during Belichick’s “ManningCast” appearance during Monday’s Falcons-Eagles game, the head coach made a point to bring up the tampering penalty totally unprompted.
Bill Belichick making sure everyone knows that the #Falcons—the team that passed on him this offseason—illegally tampered to sign three free agents.
"They contacted early, got fined for it, lost a draft choice, and all that." 💀pic.twitter.com/1Ydfm7PcTJ
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 17, 2024
After Mooney caught a pass, Belichick chimed in.
“Mooney is one of the three free agents that they signed illegally: Mooney, Woerner, and, of course, Cousins. They contacted early, got fined for it, lost a draft choice, and all that,” Belichick said.
Peyton Manning smiled as Belichick said this and then changed the topic — seemingly realizing that Belichick just wanted to get a shot in at the executives who passed on him.
An ESPN report from last offseason probably added to the bad blood between Belichick and the Falcons’ brass, as it was reported that neither CEO Rich McKey nor Fontenot wanted to work with Belichick because they viewed him as “an older, stoic coach who’d blow up the building.”
Robert Kraft Reportedly Ripped Belichick in Phone Calls With Falcons Owner
That same ESPN report included very interesting details about New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft criticizing Belichick in phone calls with Falcons owner Arthur Blank, which contributed to Belichick not getting the job.
Belichick and Blank met shortly after Belichick officially parted with the Patriots. The meeting reportedly went well, and Blank was “very impressed” with Belichick, who showed “no rust.” However, everything changed from that point forward.
Here’s arguably the most explosive excerpt from ESPN’s story:
“Despite that friendly first session, the unthinkable happened for a billionaire and a legendary coach: Blank and Belichick checked each other’s references. Blank spoke by phone, at least twice, to Robert Kraft. Among the NFL owners, Blank considers Kraft his closest friend. Publicly, Kraft and Blank have said Kraft expressed only support and offered praise of his former coach.
“But in a conversation with Blank, Kraft delivered a stark assessment of Belichick’s character, according to a source who spoke to two people: a close Kraft friend and a longtime Belichick confidant. The source quoted the Belichick source as saying, ‘Robert called Arthur to warn him not to trust Bill.’ That account was backed up, the source said, by the close Kraft friend.
“Multiple sources said that Kraft spoke with ‘some candor’ to Blank about Belichick, though the sources declined to elaborate. One source close to Belichick said Kraft ‘was a big part’ of why the Falcons passed on hiring him.
“The sources said Kraft made clear to Blank that ‘you’ll never have a warm conversation with’ Belichick, echoing what Bill Parcells told Kraft in 1996 when he wanted to bust the budget and hire Belichick. ‘Blank likes coaches who feel part of a family,’ a Falcons source said, ‘and it wasn’t going to be that way with Bill.’”
ESPN added that, for months, Kraft had told confidants he’d “lost trust” in Belichick. “[Kraft] found Bill to be extremely difficult and obstinate and kind of stubborn and, in the end, not worthy of his trust,” a source close to Kraft told ESPN, “And also very, very, very arrogant.”
That same source said Kraft and his son, team president Jonathan Kraft, felt “betrayed” by Belichick, but wasn’t sure whether Robert warned Blank about trusting Belichick.
“I don’t think they’d try to hurt Belichick,” the source told ESPN, “But I don’t think they’d try to help him either.”
MORE: Bill Belichick’s Net Worth — How Much Money Has He Made?
Kraft faced criticism for his negative remarks about Belichick during Apple TV’s “The Dynasty” docuseries, which many — including Patriots players — believe paints Belichick in a negative light.
It’s worth noting that Stacey James, the Patriots’ vice president of media relations, strongly denied ESPN’s report about Kraft condemning Belichick while speaking with Blank.
“Robert steadfastly denies saying anything negative to Arthur Blank about Bill Belichick after Robert and Bill mutually agreed to part ways,” James told ESPN. “In fact, Robert advocated for Bill to get the job.”
However, James conceded that Kraft might’ve been critical of Belichick while speaking with Blank before January.
“It would not surprise me to learn that owners sometimes lament to those close to them when their teams are struggling,” James said. “But Robert Kraft never questioned Bill’s character or trust when talking with Arthur Blank. Trust is important to Robert. He wouldn’t have employed Coach Belichick for the past 24 years if he ever questioned his trust.”
Fortunately for Belichick, he’s doing just fine as a commentator. In addition to his recurring role on ESPN’s “ManningCast,” he recently announced a show of his own with Underdog Fantasy called “Coach With Bill Belichick.” The legendary head coach also has a book deal lined up that will pay him “well into the seven figures,” according to The Athletic.
While Belichick would likely prefer to be chasing Don Shula to become the winningest head coach in NFL history, he has some excellent gigs on the horizon that will keep him front and center until the offseason, when he’s expected to resume his coaching career.