Atlanta Falcons and Bill Belichick schedule second sit-down over head coach role
Belichick met with Falcons owner Arthur Blank in a one-on-one interview on Monday, and Atlanta interviewed Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh (60) on Tuesday.
NFL Network reported Belichick's weekend interview with the Falcons would include members of Atlanta's executive committee, comprised of vice chairman Steve Cannon, CEO Rich McKay, team president Greg Beadles and general manager Terry Fontenot.
The Falcons fired Arthur Smith (41) after Atlanta finished the 2023 season with the same record - 7-10 - for the third consecutive season under Smith.
Blank said he would make the final decision on the coaching hire.
Belichick ranks second in NFL history in head-coaching wins (regular season and playoffs) with 333. He trails only Don Shula's 347 in that category while ranking third in regular-season wins (302) behind Shula (328) and George Halas (318).
He spent five seasons as head coach of the Cleveland Browns (1991-95) before making history with Tom Brady in New England. They won Super Bowls in the 2001, 2003, 2004, 2014, 2016 and 2018 seasons. Belichick also won two Super Bowls as defensive coordinator for the New York Giants.
After the Patriots' 4-13 season in 2023, New England went in a new direction, naming Jerod Mayo the head coach.
Atlanta has confirmed interviews with eight candidates, including Belichick and Harbaugh, to replace Smith.
Five of them never have been a head coach: Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Brian Johnson, Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan, Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero and Ravens assistant head coach/defensive line coach Anthony Weaver.
The Falcons also interviewed San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, who was the Arizona Cardinals' head coach in 2018 and Carolina's interim coach for 12 games in 2022.
Johnson was the most recent of the group to meet with the Falcons, with the franchise announcing Thursday that a virtual interview had been conducted.