A Scout’s Perspective on Why Bill Belichick Was Passed Over in Atlanta
A week ago, it appeared that former New England Head Coach, and possibly the best coach in NFL history, would be chosen the Atlanta Falcons’ head coach.
Earlier in the week, Belichick flew into Atlanta for a second interview, and most of the media predicted that he would be chosen the new head coach within hours. Surprisingly, it never happened, and I believe I know why. It goes back more than 30 years, when I worked for the New York Giants.
In January 1993, the New York Giants required a new head coach. The cause for this actually dates back to May 1991. That January, Hall of Fame Coach Bill Parcells led the Giants to their second Super Bowl victory in five years. After winning two Super Bowls in such a short period of time, Parcells had the leverage to gain more authority within the business, as well as a new, unprecedented deal. When neither occurred by the draft in late April, Parcells abruptly quit as head coach, citing health concerns.
Because Parcells’ resignation came in early May, well outside the regular coach hiring cycle, General Manager George Young found himself in a difficult predicament. Where would he look for a new head coach in May? He quickly realized that he had very few options and ended up appointing running backs coach Ray Handley to the Head Coach post.
It wasn’t long before we realized it was the incorrect move, as the Giants’ next two seasons were disastrous. Handley was sacked as the Giants’ head coach at the end of the 1992 NFL season, prompting a fresh search.
At the time, Dan Reeves was the most popular name on the market. Reeves had been the Denver Broncos’ Head Coach for the previous 12 years, leading the team to three Super Bowl appearances and five Division Championships.
Dan Reeves, like Bill Belichick in New England, had complete authority over all football operations in Denver. He didn’t have the title of General Manager, but he was Vice President of Football Operations, which gave him the same authority as the GM. Dan Reeves oversaw all aspects of football operations.
