Bill Belichick has reportedly decided on future for 2024 NFL season

The Atlanta Falcons and every other club with head coach openings this past winter passed on hiring former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick. 

Belichick seemingly will spend the 2024 NFL season analyzing games for a well-known entity. 

"In the coming weeks, Belichick is expected to sign a deal to do analysis for Peyton Manning's Omaha Productions, which produces ESPN's 'ManningCast' during 'Monday Night Football,'" Don Van Natta Jr., Seth Wickersham and Jeremy Fowler of ESPN revealed on Wednesday. 

The move isn't all that surprising considering Belichick was linked with practically each of the league's media partners at different points of the offseason after he and Patriots owner Robert Kraft "mutually" agreed to part ways in January. Washington Huskies defensive coordinator Steve Belichick said in February that his famous father was "definitely pursuing other stuff" at that time. Steve indicated that Bill specifically was speaking with television executives. 

Former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski serves as an NFL analyst for Fox Sports, and former New England quarterback Tom Brady remains on track to become Fox's lead NFL analyst beginning next season. CBS is expected to shake things up regarding its "The NFL Today" program and presumably would've wanted Belichick for pre-game and post-game shows. 

However, media insider Andrew Marchand of The Athletic reported in late March that Belichick had "told networks he is disinclined to be part of a regular studio show." Marchand added that "ESPN could combine with Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions and NFL Films to secure the legendary coach for a broadcasting role." 

The ESPN "ManningCast" alternate broadcasts of "Monday Night Football" games feature Hall of Famer Peyton Manning and New York Giants legend Eli Manning breaking the action down from outside of traditional studios as they interview guests from the sports and entertainment communities. Peyton Manning's "Detail" show available on ESPN+ involves the two-time Super Bowl champion essentially explaining game-film study to viewers. 

Assuming Belichick won't want to work live across a handful of Monday nights from September through January 2025, Omaha Productions and NFL Films could give him his own "Detail" show for the upcoming campaign. Whatever Belichick does for ESPN, it appears the two could enjoy a short-term relationship considering he reportedly is interested in coaching the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants or Philadelphia Eagles next season. 

Belichick is just 15 wins shy of setting an NFL record for career victories by a head coach (regular season and playoffs combined). One source "who spoke with a longtime friend of Belichick" told ESPN that friend doesn't think Belichick "will ever be a head coach again in the National Football League" unless it's for Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones.