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Julian Edelman mentions Bill Belichick as a potential fit for Giants coaching job
“Guy shed a single tear every time we played there. The only time I saw him get happy [is] when he talked about [Lawrence Taylor]. "
If former Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was plotting a return to the NFL ranks, an ideal spot seemingly opened up earlier this week.
The New York Giants fired their former head coach Brian Daboll after sporting a 20-40-1 record across three-and-a-half seasons — with New York looking for a new presence to lead a young core anchored by talents like Jaxson Dart, Malik Nabers, and Cam Skattebo.
The 73-year-old Belichick may not be the most logical fit for a young Giants team still set to go through some growing pains in the coming years.
But Belichick’s history with New York and affinity for that franchise is why former Patriots wideout Julian Edelman was quick to throw out Belichick’s name as a potential target for the Giants this offseason.
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“There’s a team down in Chapel Hill is playing a little better. What if the Giants brought in Bill Belichick? … He [expletive] loves them, we all know that,” Edelman said of Belichick on his “Games with Names” podcast. “Guy shed a single tear every time we played there. The only time I saw him get happy [is] when he talked about [Lawrence Taylor]. Just joking.”
Belichick — who has currently in the first year of his foray into collegiate coaching at UNC — has plenty of history with the Giants. He initially joined the Giants in 1979 as a defensive assistant, eventually getting promoted as defensive coordinator on Bill Parcells’ staff in 1985.
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Belichick won two Super Bowl titles as New York’s DC before earning his first NFL head-coaching gig with the Browns in 1991.
Even with Belichick’s ties to the Giants and the Mara Family — who have owned the Giants since the team’s founding in 1925 — Edelman also cautioned that the Giants “really don’t make crazy hires like that” when it comes to targeting a coach like Belichick.
“I don’t know,” Edelman said. “Who knows? I think they’re gonna want to probably try to get someone that’s sexy for Jaxson Dart.”
A top offensive coordinator like Washington’s Kliff Kingsbury could make sense for a young team like the Giants, while Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin also could be a top target — given that he coached Dart in college.
Speaking on Tuesday as the Tar Heels look to win their third-straight game against Wake Forest, Belichick gave an expected response to questions regarding his aspirations of returning to the NFL ranks.
“Getting ready for Wake Forest, that’s all I got this week,” Belichick replied. The Tar Heels travel to play Wake Forest on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
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“I’ve been asked about [a potential NFL comeback] from time-to-time,” Belichick added. “Look, I’ve been down this road before. I’m focused on Wake Forest, that’s it. That’s my commitment to this team. Next week it’ll be to our next opponent and so forth. I’m here to do the best I can for this team.”
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