Falcons’ Bill Belichick’s coaching career is an enigma at this point. A few weeks earlier, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported that the third-most victorious coach in the league was eyeing the Jacksonville Jaguars as his next landing spot. The 6x Super Bowl winner finally sat with UNC and had a chat with them, putting those speculations to rest.

College? After coaching for the New England Patriots for 24 years? Does that sound desperate to you? It sure does to Jonathan Jones of CBS. He thinks Belichick’s interview with UNC is not only strange but an attempt to boost his stocks in the football world. The CBS analyst believes that this was Belichick’s strategy to stay relevant in the current football landscape.

Last year, reportedly 7 NFL teams had an opening for the head coaching job. The ex-NFL coach even sat down with Arthur Blank, the Falcons’ owner. He had an extended chat with him but to no avail. He’s been living life since that point. New relationship, a broadcasting career, and the unfolding of his wholesome personality. Is it just a façade? Not likely.

However, the CBS analyst threw down the gauntlet and laid out some crass remarks at the former NFL coach. Why is UNC wining and dining Bill Belichick, aside from just inflating his ego? This is the question that Jones pursued to answer. In Jones’s eyes, this is just Belichick’s PR antics to remain relevant in the football world.

“Well, the answer to that would likely lie in the fact that Bill Belichick wants to appear to be wanted. He wants to create enough leverage or more leverage, perhaps, than he currently has or than he maybe was anticipating he would have,” Jones said. The sportscaster pointed out how no one selected him for the opening despite there being seven of them. Again, in Jones’ mind, there’s only one reason why Belichick is doing this.

“He wants to be seen. He wants to be out there,” Jones said, pointing out Belichick’s increasing presence on social media, fantasy football sites, and sports channels in general. “So, to let folks know, hey, ‘I have the energy, I have the juice to go to college and get this done,’ may signal, according to sources, that Bill Belichick is wanted across the football landscape,” Jones further added.

On that note, let’s check out what that meeting at UNC was all about and what we know so far about this unusual linkup.

Bill Belichick is just steps away from making history

The former NFL coach just needs 15 more wins to pass Don Shula’s 347-173-6 record. Is Belichick (333-178) trying to leverage the position at UNC to find his way back into the NFL? We can’t deny the possibility. However, sources suggest that Belichick does have an interest in getting a coaching job at UNC. Albert Breer of SI stirred up the pot once again on the TNF broadcast.

“I was told by somebody who would know earlier this week that whether it’s in high school, college or the pros, Bill Belichick will coach in 2025,” Breer said. “Now, the assumption would be that it’s going to be in the NFL. I still think that’s the most likely scenario. However, he’s not going to take an NFL job just to take an NFL job. Things have to be right; the reporting structure, all of that stuff has to be in place, and that’s why he’s looked at potential alternatives.”

Belichick wants a coaching job at an organization that he doesn’t have to build from scratch. Sources suggest that the Atlanta Falcons didn’t hire him. That’s because they didn’t want to relinquish so much control to the third-most winningest coach in the league. However, Dan Graziano of ESPN reports that Belichick’s mindset might have changed during his hiatus.

“Some people close to the situation will tell you Belichick won’t insist on the same level of organizational control at his next stop as he had in New England, but not everyone believes that,” ESPN’s Dan Graziano wrote Friday. “It’s possible that a team hiring him would have to make major changes to its front office structure to accommodate him.” But that’s just old mumbo-jumbo in a shiny package.

Albert Breer gave Belichick the benefit of the doubt when he said that the coach wanted the job at UNC because he wanted to hone players from early on. Whether Belichick joins UNC and pushes out the NFL’s hottest talent is yet to be seen. What’s your take on Bill Belichick’s hiatus?