The Falcons appear to want Bill Belichick.
What does Belichick want?
A source told CBS Sports that Falcons owner Arthur Blank “desperately” wants to land the legendary former Patriots head coach.
But the source added that it’s “50-50” whether Belichick — who has yet to interview with anyone else in his first weeks as a free agent — actually takes the job.
There might not be a rush for Belichick to make his decision because the Falcons reportedly do not want to skip steps on the way to naming their next head coach.
Belichick is the only Atlanta candidate thus far who has interviewed twice — the first time on Blank’s yacht near the U.S. Virgin Islands, before Belichick reportedly was flown into Atlanta on one of Blank’s private jets for an interview that the team announced Friday.
If Belichick is the leading candidate, he is not the only one.
According to multiple reports, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh will receive a second interview, and ESPN reported that the Falcons want to talk with former Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.
The Falcons are also not yet in compliance with the Rooney Rule, in which they have to complete in-person interviews with at least two external minority coaches.
The Falcons have talked at least remotely with plenty of options — nine that the team has announced, several from a minority background — but the playoffs have somewhat stalled in-person interviews.
Beginning Monday, clubs can talk in person with candidates employed by other teams whose seasons are concluded.
They are not allowed to talk with still-working coaches whose teams will be in the conference championship games until those teams’ seasons are over.
In addition to Belichick and Harbaugh, the Falcons have announced they have completed initial head coach interviews with:
Thus far — as far as we know at least — Belichick has only spoken (and twice) with the Falcons.
Arguably the greatest coach in NFL history is likely interviewing the Falcons as much as they are interviewing him, and the world does not yet know how he feels about Blank & Co.