Bill Belichick and Jim Harbaugh battle as interview for same NFL head coach job
Two of the biggest names in American football, Bill Belichick and Jim Harbaugh, are both in the running for the same head coach role. After dismissing Arthur Smith, the Atlanta Falcons took to social media to announce they had completed interviews for both the six-time Super Bowl champion and the CFP National Champion.
After 24 years leading the New England Patriots, Belichick has parted ways with the franchise. He was a key figure in transforming the Patriots from a struggling team to six-time Super Bowl champions, alongside star quarterback Tom Brady and owner Rob Kraft.
Since Brady left for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020, the Patriots have struggled and Belichick stepped down as head coach last week after a disappointing 4-13 finish in 2023. There's been talk of him taking on the Dallas Cowboys job, but current coach Mike McCarthy is still in place despite a recent playoff defeat.
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Meanwhile, the Falcons have interviewed Belichick as part of their search for a new head coach. The team said in a statement: "The Atlanta Falcons have completed an interview with Bill Belichick for the organisation's head coach position, the club announced Monday. Belichick spent the past 24 seasons as head coach of the New England Patriots where he led the Patriots to 17 division titles and six Super Bowl Championships."
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The Falcons are still on the hunt for big names in the free agency pool, announcing on Tuesday that they had interviewed Michigan Wolverines head coach Harbaugh for their vacancy. Earlier this month, Harbaugh achieved his goal at his alma mater, leading Michigan to their first National Championship in 26 years with a 34-13 victory over Washington - and now he's looking ahead.
Harbaugh, who spent four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers between 2011 and 2014, is thinking about a comeback to the NFL. As the 49ers head coach, Harbaugh had a regular season record of 44-19-1 and a playoff record of 5-3, taking San Francisco to three consecutive NFC Championship Games as well as a Super Bowl XLVII defeat to the Baltimore Ravens.
Jim Harbaugh finally led Michigan back to the summit of college football by winning the CFP National Championship earlier this month (Getty Images)Harbaugh has been with Michigan for nine seasons, boasting an 86-25 record, but he's been toying with the idea of returning to the NFL. He interviewed with the Minnesota Vikings two years ago before they hired Kevin O'Connell, and also had talks with the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers last year, who eventually chose Sean Payton and Frank Reich respectively.
The 2023 college football season was a rollercoaster for Harbaugh, who faced suspensions from both the NCAA and the Big Ten. Despite this, he's considering a mega contract renewal offer with Michigan, but wants protection from NCAA punishment.
Yahoo Sports reported hat Harbaugh could become the highest-paid coach in college football with a deal earning him a guaranteed $11.5 million (£9m) over six years. This offer also includes performance-based bonuses if he stays in Ann Arbor.
Harbaugh has also had talks with the Los Angeles Chargers, where he used to play. He's also been linked with the Las Vegas Raiders after they sacked Josh McDaniels earlier in the season. The Raiders ended the season with an 8-9 record under interim coach Antonio Pierce, who has the support of star players like Maxx Crosby to get the job full-time.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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