Bill Belichick has not retired from coaching just yet and could be in line for a new role in 2025, reports claim.
The 71-year-old has missed out on a role for this year and could be in line to appear in the media for the time being.
Belichick left his role as New England Patriots head coach on January 11 after 23 years in charge.
The Patriots finished the last season with a 4-13 record, the worst during the legendary coach's tenure.
Bill Belichick has not retired and is keen to get back into NFL
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He had been linked with an immediate return to NFL, having several interviews for the vacant Atlanta Falcons job.
However, they were unable to agree terms on a deal and the Falcons instead appointed Raheem Morris last week.
It was the only realistic opportunity for Belichick to step into a new head coach role this year.
CBS Sports claim that Belichick is likely to be in line for a stint on TV as a pundit to keep himself in the public eye.
But he still has a desire to be a head coach again and 2025 could provide him that opportunity.
The report says any new job must be on 'his terms', which is part of the reason why he didn't land the position with the Falcons.
Belichick is said to have had two face-to-face interviews, where he laid out his plans to Falcons owner Arthur Blank.
However, they decided he would cause too much disruption and decided for Morris instead.
Belichick now faces his first NFL season not being a head coach since 1999.
He won six of the nine Super Bowls he reached with the Patriots, the last coming in 2018.
Tom Brady's departure in 2019 is widely regarded as a pivotal moment in the Patriots' downfall and they haven't been in a Super Bowl since.
NFL expert Aaron McMann told GB News earlier this month that Belichick's recent struggles would see teams think twice about appointing him.
"The last couple of years, the Patriots have had two straight losing seasons," McMann said.
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Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft came to a mutual agreement for him to leave New England Patriots
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"They’ve gone five straight years without a playoff win. I think the time has moved past Belichick, he’s 71 years old now.
"He had a great run in New England, six Super Bowl wins, but one could make the argument that once Tom Brady left the team back in 2019 that the wheels kind of fell off the wagon."
Patriots owner Robert Kraft admitted that results played a part in the mutual termination of Belichick's contract.
Kraft said: "This is a results business, and certain things in life, it’s instinctual.
"I think both of us felt that the time was right for each of us to go off in our separate directions.
Bill Belichick had his worst season in NFL last year with the New England Patriots
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"It’s like a marriage, and things don’t always go great. And, you get through the difficult times, and it makes the relationship stronger.
"I think we had a chance to do that over the last almost quarter of a century.
"So, I think both of us felt that at this point in time, it was in our mutual interest to each go our own way.
"But, knowing that we have that bond and foundation, it’s really hard in this business to create – very hard."