Sports
Will Bill Belichick coach again? A hoodie-shaped cloud looms over NFL in 2024
Bill Belichick will cast a large shadow over the NFL throughout the 2024 season.
The coaching legend is out of the league for the first time in 50 years, but he’ll have a ghost-like presence in many buildings, specifically among those franchises with coaches under intense pressure to win now.
Whether Belichick actually gets another coaching job remains to be seen. Still, there’s no question his free-agent status will be among the most heavily discussed topics around the league during the season. In fact, it’s already been a prominent topic at various facilities.
You can understand why. This is a completely unprecedented situation. There’s never been a six-time Super Bowl champion head coach waiting on standby — though with a meaty media schedule — to sift through the inevitable wave of job openings in January.
Call it The Belichick Cloud.
“That will definitely be a much bigger cloud than we’ve seen in a long time,” said a high-ranking team executive, who, like the other sources in this story, was granted anonymity so he could speak candidly.
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Bill Belichick’s highest highs, lowest lows in 24 years with the Patriots
The Dallas Cowboys are the obvious connection. Mike McCarthy, who is on an expiring contract, has 36 regular-season victories and just a single playoff triumph over the past three years, so the Cowboys may need to advance deep into January for McCarthy to keep his job.
And even then, would it be enough? The Cowboys still have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL, and owner Jerry Jones isn’t afraid to go star-chasing. If Jones believes Belichick would give his ready-made contender the best chance to end a three-decade Super Bowl drought, it could be the perfect fit for both sides.
“Nothing (the Cowboys) could do would surprise me,” an assistant coach from another team opined.
Belichick, who will turn 73 in April, has his own short-term goals. He’s got 333 career victories, including the playoffs, and needs another 15 to surpass Don Shula for the all-time record. Belichick’s legacy is secure without hitting that benchmark, but he still wants to hit it.
Therefore, a team in need of a roster reconstruction wouldn’t be a logical fit, not personally or organizationally. So while Belichick will forever be linked to the New York Giants, whom he helped guide to two Super Bowls as a defensive coordinator, they’re still in the middle of a large-scale rebuild in the third year of the Joe Schoen-Brian Daboll ticket.
Other teams that could potentially match a more suitable criteria could include the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles. While the Bills have won double-digit regular-season games in five consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history, they haven’t gotten over the hump in the playoffs. If Sean McDermott can’t buck that trend, would ownership consider a run at Belichick?
Nick Sirianni has also caught plenty of heat in Philly. In fact, when the Eagles practiced in Foxboro this month, a fan yelled at Sirianni that Belichick would be taking his job next year, so he’s already privy to the noise.
Patriots fan just yelled at Nick Sirianni
“Hey Sirianni, Bill is taking your job next year”
Going to be an intense practice today
— Eliot Shorr-Parks (@EliotShorrParks) August 13, 2024
“(It’s) definitely a distraction,” another assistant coach said, “especially if the coaching staff is on an expiring contract. (It’s) important to get off to a good start, I would think.”
There’s an important element at play that must also not be overlooked, though. There were seven coaching vacancies last offseason, not including the New England Patriots, and Belichick still wound up without a job.
The Athletic reported in February that three primary factors played into that: Belichick’s mishandling of the Patriots’ quarterback situation, including the events that led to Tom Brady’s departure in 2020 and the failure to develop Mac Jones, Belichick’s desire to maintain total control of football operations and a concern over his inability to relate to a younger generation of players.
The same apprehension still exists.
“If the model is the New England model, you’re blowing up the operation as you know it,” a personnel executive said. “If you’re doing that with a 73-year-old head coach, you’re blowing up your personnel operation and starting over with a head coach who may only be there for three years. There’d be a lot of questions.
“It’s got to be an owner who is in a situation where they need to win now because it’s not a hire for the future. It’s not future-oriented. It’s present-oriented. And then what do you do for two years? How do you sustain success?”
Another executive simply asked, “Do you really think Jerry and Stephen (Jones) are giving personnel control to (Belichick)?”
It’s surely conceivable the year away will soften Belichick’s stance on maintaining roster control, especially if the alternative means he’s coached his last game. Jerry Jones has long since established he’ll remain the Cowboys’ general manager, and his aligned vision with Stephen Jones and Will McClay has yielded a premium roster.
Similarly with the Eagles, Howie Roseman is widely viewed as one of the best general managers in the NFL. Even if owner Jeffrey Lurie ultimately approved a coaching change, it’d be somewhat stunning if he took away responsibilities from Roseman.
The Bills are in a unique spot of their own on that front. General manager Brandon Beane and McDermott have worked together since 2011 when they were with the Carolina Panthers. If owner Terry Pegula determines Belichick is the better option after the season, would Pegula view Beane and McDermott as a package deal, or force Beane and Belichick to make serious adjustments and figure it out?
It’s also fair to remain concerned over Belichick’s delivery. His old-school, hardline approach with players has become the exception in the modern landscape, as players have gained a greater appreciation for coaches who empower the locker room. While older generations of coaches, players or fans may roll their eyes at that notion, it doesn’t change the truth. Those who have refused to adapt have had shorter shelf lives in their roles.
At any rate, these questions will continue to help drive the conversation, which will only fuel the speculation in several buildings. Strong starts will be imperative to curb the discussion in places like Dallas, Philly and even Buffalo where the debate has already started, either as a whisper or otherwise. But as history has shown, a few purported Super Bowl contenders will limp or fall out of the starting blocks, leading to a new group of potential Belichick suitors.
“The teams that struggle the first two months who have high expectations, you’re going to have that pressure anyway, whether it’s Belichick hanging overhead or anyone else,” an executive said.
But if sports-talk speculation seeps into the building, either in news conferences or conversations among coaches or front office executives who are wondering about their future, tensions could rise in certain organizations.
“I believe it could become annoying and could be a distraction if it’s constantly asked about and mentioned,” an executive said.
Belichick won’t be hard to find this season. He’s got various media roles lined up, so he’ll surely hear questions about the matter. He may duck them to avoid putting a former colleague in a bad spot, but it won’t take much to generate headlines.
And that hoodie-shaped cloud will remain overhead.
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(Photo illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic; photos of Bill Belichick, Nick Sirianni and Mike McCarthy: Cooper Neill, Mitchell Leff and Adam Bettcher)
Sports
TNA Wrestling hit with wave of departures
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Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) had a few more shakeups to its talent and personnel roster on Wednesday.
Anthem Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of TNA, announced that it had parted ways with pro wrestling legend Tommy Dreamer and former TNA world champion Tessa Blanchard in a press release. Fox News Digital confirmed Blanchard’s departure on Tuesday.
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Tommy Dreamer speaks during the SiriusXM Busted Open Wrestlemania party at Intrigue at Wynn Las Vegas on April 19, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nev. (Bryan Steffy/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
“TNA Wrestling today announced a workforce reduction, designed to streamline operations and sharpen strategic focus and profitability,” the organization said.
“TNA’s creative leadership team will see an immediate shift. Tommy Dreamer, who has worked in TNA’s Creative and Talent Relations Departments, is leaving the company as TNA and Dreamer mutually agreed to part ways.
“TNA Wrestling also has come to terms on the release of Tessa Blanchard.
“We wish Tessa, Tommy and others the best in their future endeavors.”
Tessa Blanchard participates in the U.S. vs. Canada Border Brawl in Niagara Falls, Ontario, on May 25, 2025. (Robert Okine/Getty Images for Zone-ify)
Dreamer announced his departure in an emotional interview on Busted Open Radio earlier Wednesday.
Additionally, pro wrestler Sami Callihan announced he had parted ways with the company.
“Thought I was getting called today to be offered a position in creative… nope. I’ve parted ways with TNA. Oh well… onward to the next adventure,” he wrote on X while encouraging fans to watch Pro Wrestling Revolver.
Dreamer, Blanchard and Callihan’s departures are the latest to hit the company.
KC Navarro and Tommy Dreamer pose for a photo before the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Athletics at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, Calif., on May 13, 2026. (Don Collier/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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TNA announced Steve Maclin and Myla Grace departed the promotion earlier this month.
Sports
Justin Herbert is starting fresh with new-look Chargers offense
Justin Herbert is starting from the ground up in Mike McDaniel’s new-look Chargers offense.
The 28-year-old quarterback has dedicated much of the offseason to tweaking his footwork — putting his left foot in front of his right from the shotgun, against traditional NFL form — to fit Los Angeles’ new offensive coordinator’s scheme.
McDaniel prioritizes getting the ball to playmakers in space as efficiently as possible, as he did for four seasons as the Miami Dolphins head coach with speedy wideouts Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and envisions Herbert’s flip in footing accelerating and syncing the timing of passes with receivers’ route breaks.
“If guys train it so that they don’t have to think about it and they can be comfortable, you can do a couple things that put the defense in a bind with how you do your footwork,” McDaniel said at Chargers minicamp in El Segundo. “I don’t mandate it. With Justin, I really just showed him where I thought it would be advantageous, and he didn’t blink for a second and was excited to attack it.”
“The patternization in Mike McDaniel’s system has required some footwork changes,” added head coach Jim Harbaugh. “[Herbert’s] been working very hard, very hard at those. And as you would expect, Justin has picked it up.”
McDaniel said he got the idea as an up-and-comer on staffs in Houston and Washington alongside current 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and pointed to Matt Ryan and Tua Tagovailoa as recent quarterbacks with whom he has implemented the stance change and reaped positive results.
Herbert, who has been one of those traditional right-handed quarterbacks to have their right foot forward from the shotgun, has embraced his new coordinator’s methodology.
“It’s about playing the way that [McDaniel] sees the quarterback position being played,” Herbert said, “and talking about how we can get the ball to the receivers in a position where they can run with it and allow them to do the things that they’re so good at: making plays.”
To accelerate his adaptation, Herbert has thrown less in practice sessions and done plenty of drills without a football — two markers that are simply unlike the seven-season veteran, who is known to sling the rock plenty at practice and in games.
McDaniel and Harbaugh added that, besides helping Herbert adjust his feet, keeping the ball out of their quarterback’s hands during the offseason will help him stay fresh later in the regular season.
Herbert is on board, but made it clear he does not require any maintenance.
“I’ve thrown a lot of footballs, and it’s May and June and I didn’t think it was as necessary to throw as much now,” Herbert said. “And do everything I can to get the footwork ready and get the offense down. The throws, they’ll be there. We’ve got plenty of time in camp and throughout [organized team activities] to get timing. I think it’s been smart by everyone, taking it easy.”
Herbert added that it’s better to focus on where his feet are now rather than in a live, meaningful game. However, Harbaugh and McDaniel said Herbert is ramping up his throwing in practice with training camp looming.
The Chargers expect big things out of McDaniel’s offense after they averaged a subpar 21.6 points per game in 2025.
Harbaugh and McDaniel are hopeful for career years from Quentin Johnston, Ladd McConkey and Tre’ Harris — exactly what the wideouts want to hear.
“As you all know … the timing, that’s a different aspect for us than we’re used to, but I think it’s great,” McConkey said. “It just gets the ball in the playmakers’ hands and lets us go to work.”
Before any dreams of the Chargers winning a Super Bowl on their home SoFi Stadium turf can come true next season, Herbert must simply get his footing, with his feet and new playbook.
“I’m sure you guys are eager to see him execute in a high regard in the stuff that we’re doing,” McDaniel said. “You got to be patient … that’s been part of the very calculated, very deliberate, intentional process that we take into the offseason.”
Sports
Knicks star OG Anunoby zones out during live TV interview, teammates burst out laughing in hilarious moment
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New York Knicks star OG Anunoby certainly played hard, and it looks like he partied hard, too.
The Knicks’ Game 4 hero appeared with some of his teammates on “Good Morning America” on Monday morning, and while he was physically present, mentally he might have been somewhere else.
Anunoby was asked about the difference first-year head coach Mike Brown made and how he brought the team together. The 28-year-old remained mute and stared off into the void, as if he didn’t hear the question.
Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, Josh Hart, Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, Michael Strahan, Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos appear on Good Morning America on June 15, 2026. (Paula Lobo/American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.)
After a couple of seconds of silence, the “Good Morning America” crew and Anunoby’s Knicks teammates burst out laughing. Jalen Brunson, being the good captain that he is, offered to step up and answer the question through laughter.
Karl-Anthony Towns then took the reins and answered the question, while Anunoby sat there oblivious. For Anunoby, the Knicks’ title celebration was the first time he had consumed alcohol, according to The Athletic’s report.
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New York Knicks forward OG Anunoby makes a game-winning tip shot vs. the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. (Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)
His first sip — or rather, chug — of alcohol was a strong pull of tequila in the Knicks’ locker room. By the looks of how things went on Monday morning, Anunoby didn’t stop drinking after the locker room.
The team threw a party Sunday night in Manhattan at a private club after immediately flying back from Texas, according to the New York Post.
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OG Anunoby of the New York Knicks celebrates after winning the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs during Game Five at Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas, on June 13, 2026. (Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE)
At one point during the interview, Michael Strahan asked Anunoby to smile, which he did, much to the delight of his teammates. Anunoby looked like he was struggling to keep his eyes open after Strahan’s request, sending his teammates into further hysteria.
Anunoby, who was named to the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team, was integral in the team’s playoff run. He played shutdown defense while also serving as a meaningful offensive contributor. He averaged just more than 20 points, 5.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.1 blocks across 17 playoff games.
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