Bill Belichick was shut out of the latest NFL coaching cycle after parting ways with the Patriots and will not be on the sidelines for the 2024 season, barring a late, unforeseen firing.
That has led to speculation about whether the notoriously curt coach will take a television job next season, with NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport saying on Jan. 28 he “wouldn’t be surprised” if Belichick ends up on TV.
Pat McAfee wants to make sure he’ll be the one to host Belichick if he decides to go that route.
“I am trying my best to get Bill Belichick on this program at least once a week going forward. Just at least once a week going forward in the football season,” McAfee said. “Could you imagine us peppering Bill Belichick every single week throughout an entire football season? That’s if he wants to get into the media world and if he would want to be on our particular program. There’s a chance he says no way.”
McAfee added that having Belichick do a weekly spot on his show would be a “dream come true.”
“Know that I am throwing my hat into the ring in a big way,” McAfee said.
Belichick was in Foxborough for the Army-Navy game in December, and McAfee, who was there with ESPN’s “College GameDay,” said he and Belichick “got a chance to talk a little s–t to each other.”
It’s unclear if Belichick would be more willing to open up when he’s not affiliated with the team. There is potential for some fascinating Xs-and-Os insight.
But he’d unlikely make the kind of weekly headlines Aaron Rodgers has during his weekly spots on McAfee’s show, where the quarterback revealed he wanted to play for the Jets and where he has shared his opinions on vaccines, Jimmy Kimmel and ayahuasca, among other subjects.
McAfee pays Rodgers seven figures to appear on his show during the NFL season and had also paid former Alabama coach Nick Saban a handsome sum for a regular spot, though Saban is now McAfee’s teammate at ESPN.