There have been some strange rumors circulating around the NFL coaching ranks, especially since six-time Super Bowl champion head coach Bill Belichick left the New England Patriots last offseason.
But when the rumors hit close to home, one tends to pay more attention.
Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio suggested earlier this month that Belichick may have eyes on not just a return to the NFL, but also being the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
There are two problems here.
First, the Buccaneers already have a coach, and a coach that's won three straight division championships in Todd Bowles. Second, Belichick already has a job at the University of North Carolina.
How would this make sense?
Florio wrote that the Tar Heels general manager, Mike Lombardi, was suggesting that Bowles might be interested in retiring after this season, which was not substantiated by anyone.
Florio was curious what would motivate Lombardi to spread such a rumor.
"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."
During an appearance on Pardon My Take, Florio clarified all this by saying it's something that might not actually be happening.
“Allow me to weave my fan fiction. Belichick’s consigliere Mike Lombardi, who is basically his unofficial mouthpiece, has been very quiet since all of the [Belichick’s girlfriend] Jordan Hudson stuff hit the fan," Florio said. "Lombardi wouldn’t shut up until this Hudson stuff happens, and now you can’t find him anywhere. But he was putting out this idea that Todd Bowles would retire, possibly after the 2024 season... “So I feel like Belichick has been eyeballing the Bucs. Maybe Lombardi was trying to speak it into existence that there’d be a vacancy there, because that’s one of the teams where they’ve got the talent Belichick needs."
This is all very curious. And totally fiction.
Bowles isn't going anywhere unless he's fired, and while Belichick probably has an interest in a return to the NFL, we saw how interested other teams are in having him last offseason when he had zero offers.