Nov 18, 2021; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick walks on the field before a game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Bill Belichick was at one point viewed as the favorite to become the next head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, but the team decided to go in a different direction by hiring Raheem Morris. It sounds like that had a lot to do with balance of power.
According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, Falcons owner Arthur Blank went into his team’s head coach search wanting Belichick . However, issues developed regarding the organizational structure with the team, and it sounds like Blank was talked out of hiring arguably the greatest coach in NFL history.
The Falcons interviewed Belichick two times, and questions reportedly arose about what the power structure would look like if Belichick was given the job. Belichick may have been concerned about the roles Blank and CEO Rich McKay would play in day-to-day operations, though Blank announced on Thursday that McKay will no longer be involved in football operations.