How Bill Belichick can play a role in New York’s NFL future after Patriots exit
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Capping a week in which legendary football coaches Pete Carroll and Nick Saban announced their tearful departures from the sidelines, the greatest of all time in the NFL acknowledged that he, too, would be leaving the franchise he led to six Super Bowl titles.
Bill Belichick’s press conference “parting ways” with the Patriots, alongside owner Robert Kraft, didn’t hold as much finality as it did for his fellow coaching legends, however.
Immediately, the speculation swirled about the 71-year-old Belichick’s next coaching destination, and there certainly are some juicy possibilities to consider between NFL teams that already have coaching vacancies — and, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, at least one nebulous “mystery team” that has yet to make a change (yes, the classic Scott Boras approach to MLB free agency!).
Obviously, the Giants and Jets qualify under that heading, and both playoff-missing teams have long-ago histories with the man who ranks third — behind Don Shula and George Halas — on the league’s all-time list with 302 regular-season wins.
Settle down, I’m not suggesting that either team is going there, but for the purposes of this newsletter, let’s at least lay out where they stand.
Belichick’s ties to the Giants evoke only positive memories for the Mara family and the fan base, of course, but as longtime Post beat writer Paul Schwartz reported, Big Blue isn’t expected to ditch existing coach Brian Daboll to pursue a decades-later reunion with Belichick, the defensive coordinator on two of their Super Bowl-winning teams under Bill Parcells.
Unlike his personal torture of the Jets over the past quarter-century, the Giants also defeated Belichick’s and Tom Brady’s Pats twice in the Super Bowl, including the ending of New England’s quest for a perfect 19-0 season in 2007-08.
The Jets’ history with Belichick also prominently features his one-day stint as HC of the NYJ before he stunningly bolted to take the same job with the Patriots on Jan. 4, 2000.
Ironically, Robert Saleh and the Jets finally ended a 15-game losing streak against Belichick in what turned out to be his final game on the New England sideline. But that meaningless win doesn’t erase 24 years of hoodied dominance with a one-sided 17-1 tally of AFC East titles in Belichick’s favor.
Jets fans surely would be glad to see Belichick move to the NFC for his next gig, and the Falcons and the Commanders emerged as the early favorites after axing Arthur Smith and Ron Rivera, respectively, earlier this week.
The Chargers also are among the seven teams presently with an opening after firing Brandon Staley on Dec. 15, though Hollywood may not be an obvious match for Belichick’s hardly sparkling personality.
A shift to Atlanta certainly would be interesting, seven years after Belichick and Brady pulled off the historic comeback from a 28-3 halftime deficit to the Falcons in Super Bowl LI.
Hiring the future Hall of Famer also would represent a splashy move for new Washington owner Josh Harris, and locally it would shift the divisional rivalry for Belichick for the final few years of his career from the Jets to the Giants.
That probably is the most fun and realistic storyline for Belichick to immediately remain in the central consciousness of New York sports, just as he has been for decades.
Today’s back page
Stro that’s it?
The Yankees have filled the opening in their starting rotation by bringing in former Mets right-hander and Long Island product Marcus Stroman on a two-year deal worth $37 million, with a potential player option for 2026.
Still, Post baseball columnist Joel Sherman, in analyzing the move, wrote the Stroman signing does not necessarily precludes the Yankees from making another pitching splash, such as trading for White Sox ace Dylan Cease or signing another free agent, most notably two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell.
By adding the 32-year-old Stroman, a 2023 All-Star with the Cubs, the Yankees’ five-man starting staff currently features reigning AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole followed by Stroman, Nestor Cortes, Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt.
Having avoided arbitration Thursday with all of their eligible players — including star outfield acquisition Juan Soto at a record $31 million — adding one more front-end starter would make a strong offseason haul that much better for the Yankees, who are coming off their worst season (82-80) since they averaged 91 losses from 1990-92.
A good Buddy to all
The passing Wednesday of Miracle Mets shortstop Buddy Harrelson — a member of the team’s Hall of Fame — was a sad one for those of us who have dealt with him over more than five decades in New York baseball (including this remembrance by The Post’s Mike Vaccaro).
A personal anecdote from a feature story I wrote on Harrelson during the initial season of the independent Long Island Ducks — he was a co-owner and the team’s on-field manager — in 2000:
Harrelson and I were seated in the dugout for a one-on-one interview during batting practice, when he said to me, “Let’s take a walk.”
We proceeded to go beyond the outfield wall at the Ducks’ stadium in Central Islip, and Harrelson picked up baseballs that had been hit for home runs during BP.
Harrelson, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016, wasn’t above trying to save a few bucks for his fledgling Atlantic League team.
Even after a 16-year career that included one Gold Glove award and two All-Star berths as a light-hitting shortstop — plus World Series rings with the Mets as a player in 1969 and as a third-base coach in 1986.
The scoreboard
Mavericks 128, Knicks 124: Can’t win ’em all! The Knicks (22-16) had their five-game winning streak snapped in Dallas thanks to the mastery of Kyrie Irving (44 points). Despite trailing by 19 points with 6:15 on the clock and by 10 with three minutes left, the Knicks got within one point. But on the game’s decisive, final-minute possession, the Mavs got three straight offensive rebounds before hitting a dagger 3. Jalen Brunson had 30 points and eight assists in his return to Dallas, and Julius Randle had a team-high 32.
Blues 5, Rangers 2: The Blueshirts dropped their third in a row for the first time this season — despite a lopsided 42-20 advantage in shots on goal. Call it a slump. The division lead over the Hurricanes is down to three points. Mika Zibanejad was a late scratch due to illness, which didn’t help. Jordan Kyrou had a hat trick and Pavel Buchnevich (remember him?) had three points for the Blues.
Islanders 4, Maple Leafs 3 (OT): In a reversal of their season-long pattern, this time it was the Isles rallying from a 3-1 deficit (goals by Alexander Romanov and Bo Horvat) before getting the winner from Mathew Barzal in overtime. Lane Lambert’s line shuffling was the story here: He split up Barzal and Horvat, moving Barzal back to center.
Cavaliers 111, Nets 102: The more conspiracy-minded of us might think Donovan Mitchell’s 45-point performance in Paris was an audition in front of Nets decision-makers to consider an offer for the 2025 free-agent-to-be. Cam Thomas and Mikal Bridges led the Nets with 26 points apiece.
What we’re reading 👀
⚾ The Mets avoided arbitration with Pete Alonso, agreeing to pay the slugger $20.5 million in 2024, his walk year.
🏈 The Post’s Phil Mushnick skewers the NFL’s decision to broadcast Saturday night’s Chiefs-Dolphins playoff game on subscription app Peacock.
🏈 The Giants already have a new offensive coach.
⚽ Meet the new star of the Red Bulls: Emil Forsberg, a veteran Swedish attacking midfielder.
🏀 The Bucks’ blowout of the Celtics was unsuitable for TV.
🏆 Did you hear the one about how ESPN used fake names to get extra Emmy awards?
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