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Bill Belichick met with the Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank in person for a second interview on Friday, but sources caution that any potential deal with one of the greatest coaches of all time is not a done deal at this time.
Belichick first met with Blank on Jan. 15, on Blank’s yacht near the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to one league source. Friday’s second interview with the former Patriots head coach involved Blank, team CEO Rich McKay, team president Greg Beadles and general manager Terry Fontenot, per multiple sources.
The Falcons have interviewed nine candidates for their vacant head-coaching position, and there will be more. Atlanta has requested interviews with Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Bills interim offensive coordinator Joe Brady, sources say. And there could be even more initial interviews beyond that.
But the Falcons are already at the second interview with Belichick, which has caused many around the league to believe it’s a fait accompli that he’ll be crowned the newest head coach in Atlanta — and perhaps in short order.
Sources tell CBS Sports that’s not exactly the case. The Falcons are planning for several second interviews for the upcoming week. Due to league rules, the Falcons couldn’t hire Belichick on the spot, or this weekend, even if they wanted to.
“This will be one of the most comprehensive head coach searches in [NFL] history,” one source said.
But a source familiar with Belichick told CBS Sports Blank “desperately” wants Belichick and that it’s ultimately Belichick’s job if he wants it. That source said it’s “50/50 right now that he takes the job.”
In order to proceed with a head-coaching hire, a team with a vacancy must comply with the Rooney Rule by interviewing at least two external candidates of diverse backgrounds in person. So far, the Falcons have only interviewed Belichick…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/bill-belichick-meets-with-falcons-for-second-interview-arthur-blank-all-in-on-landing-ex-patriots-coach/
Author : Jonathan Jones
Publish date : 2024-01-20 01:10:28
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