Bill Belichick Rumor Update as NFL Contender Announces Major Move
Bill Belichick Rumor Update as NFL Contender Announces Major Move originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio recently suggested that Bill Belichick may have eyes on not just a return to the NFL, but also on being the head coach of the 2026 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
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His "report'' - such as it was - centered on his claim wrote that Tar Heels general manager Mike Lombardi (Belichick's right-hand man) was going around suggesting that present Bucs coach Todd Bowles might be interested in retiring after this season.
Florio was curious what would motivate Lombardi to spread such a rumor. ... while spreading the rumor himself.
"So why would Lombardi be trying to speak a vacancy into existence? Maybe because that's one of the jobs Belichick would want," Florio wrote. "Even with all of the craziness that has happened of late, the Bucs can't be ruled out as a potential destination for Belichick. ...
"So I feel like Belichick has been eyeballing the Bucs.''
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Oh.
Florio - who also this offseason claimed hilariously, "I don't like to traffic in (rumors)'' - didn't have his facts straight then.
And today? It's all even more embarrassing, as not only is Bowles, 61, not retiring ...
He just signed a contract extension on Thursday.
The Buccaneers have a coach that has won three straight division championships. Belichick already has a job with the North Carolina Tar Heels. ... even though Florio seems to write almost daily about how he "feels'' Belichick (and his right-hand woman Jordon Hudson) might leave UNC.
"Feelings'' are nice.
Facts are what matter.
The Buccaneers announced contract extensions Thursday morning for both general manager Jason Licht and head coach Bowles. This comes on the heels of another successful year for the franchise.
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Over the course of the last year the Bucs have navigated multiple major coaching staff changes, maintained key veterans through free agency, drafted immediate contributors across the roster and won the NFC South for a fourth straight season. Much of that credit belongs to both Bowles and Licht. ...
And it is the height of disrespect to Bowles that PFT seems to fail to recognize that.
Bowles has kept the Bucs atop their division since taking over in 2022 and increased the team's win total by one each season. He is now being rewarded for that ... and probably shouldn't hold his breath waiting for an apology from Mike Florio.
Related: Bucs Announce Major Contract News For Todd Bowles and GM Jason Licht
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 26, 2025, where it first appeared.
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