End of an era: Where will legendary Patriots coach Bill Belichick go next?

FOXBORO, Mass. — Bill Belichick’s 24-year run in New England, which included six Super Bowl titles and 17 division titles, is officially over.

Reports: Bill Belichick, New England Patriots parting ways after 24 seasons

During a noon news conference Thursday, team owner Robert Kraft confirmed that the team has “mutually agreed” to part ways with Belichick after 24 seasons of unprecedented success.

So what’s next for Belichick? ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the 71-year-old future Hall of Famer “wants to continue to coach.”

There are currently seven NFL teams with head coaching vacancies, including the Atlanta Falcons, a franchise that is a likely landing spot for Belichick, according to Schefter.

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Patriots Belichick Football FILE - New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Patriots beat the Carolina Panthers 32-29 in Super Bowl XXXVIII in Houston, Texas, Feb. 1, 2004. Six-time NFL champion Bill Belichick has agreed to part ways as the coach of the New England Patriots on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, bringing an end to his 24-year tenure as the architect of the most decorated dynasty of the league’s Super Bowl era, a source told the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because it has not yet been announced. (AP Photo/Dave Martin, File) (Dave Martin/AP)

Patriots Belichick Football FILE - New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick addresses questions about the upcoming NFL draft during a news conference at Foxboro Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., Wednesday, April 12, 2000. Six-time NFL champion Bill Belichick has agreed to part ways as the coach of the New England Patriots on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, bringing an end to his 24-year tenure as the architect of the most decorated dynasty of the league’s Super Bowl era, a source told the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because it has not yet been announced. (AP Photo/ Victoria Arocho, File) (Victoria Arocho/AP)

Patriots Belichick Football FILE - New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is doused after the Patriots beat the Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 in Super Bowl XXXIX at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., Feb. 6, 2005. At right is Belichick's father, Steve. Six-time NFL champion Bill Belichick has agreed to part ways as the coach of the New England Patriots on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, bringing an end to his 24-year tenure as the architect of the most decorated dynasty of the league’s Super Bowl era, a source told the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because it has not yet been announced.(AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File) (DAVID J. PHILLIP/AP)

Patriots Belichick Football FILE - New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick waves to fans after the Patriots beat the New York Jets 31-14 in an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday Nov. 22, 2009. Six-time NFL champion Bill Belichick has agreed to part ways as the coach of the New England Patriots on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, bringing an end to his 24-year tenure as the architect of the most decorated dynasty of the league’s Super Bowl era, a source told the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because it has not yet been announced. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File) (Elise Amendola/AP)

Patriots Belichick Football FILE - New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick holds the championship trophy after the NFL football AFC Championship game Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015, in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots defeated the Colts 45-7 to advance to the Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks. Six-time NFL champion Bill Belichick has agreed to part ways as the coach of the New England Patriots on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, bringing an end to his 24-year tenure as the architect of the most decorated dynasty of the league’s Super Bowl era, a source told the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because it has not yet been announced.(AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File) (Matt Slocum/AP)

Bill Belichick Football FILE - New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick holds up a Super Bowl trophy as he addresses the crowd during a rally Feb. 7, 2017, in Boston to celebrate the team's win over the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game in Houston. Six-time NFL champion Bill Belichick has agreed to part ways as the coach of the New England Patriots on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, bringing an end to his 24-year tenure as the architect of the most decorated dynasty of the league’s Super Bowl era, a source told the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because it has not yet been announced. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File) (Elise Amendola/AP)

Patriots Belichick Football FILE - New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, left, celebrates with head coach Bill Belichick after defeating the Miami Dolphins 41-13 in an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014, in Foxborough, Mass. Six-time NFL champion Bill Belichick has agreed to part ways as the coach of the New England Patriots on Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024, bringing an end to his 24-year tenure as the architect of the most decorated dynasty of the league’s Super Bowl era, a source told the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because it has not yet been announced. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) (Charles Krupa/AP)

AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am - Round One PEBBLE BEACH, CA - FEBRUARY 06: NFL football coach Bill Belichick and professional football player Tom Brady stand on the 17th hole green during the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am at Spyglass Hill Golf Course on February 6, 2014 in Pebble Beach, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Super Bowl XLIX - New England Patriots v Seattle Seahawks GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 01: Tom Brady #12, team owner Robert Kraft, and head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots celebrate with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after defeating the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 to win Super Bowl XLIX at University of Phoenix Stadium on February 1, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) (Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick watches from the sideline during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer) (Michael Dwyer/AP)

Tom Brady, Bill Belichick FILE - In this Feb. 5, 2017, file photo, New England Patriots' Tom Brady holds the Vince Lombardi Trophy beside coach Bill Belichick, right, after the Patriots defeated the Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in overtime at the NFL Super Bowl 51 football game in Houston. A new book and a movie are in the works about Brady and the suspension he overcame to earn an unprecedented fifth Super Bowl ring. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)

FILE - New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, left, talks to head coach Bill Belichick as their team warms up before an NFL football game against the New York Jets in East Rutherford, N.J., in this Monday, Oct. 21, 2019, file photo. Belichick never was one to spent wildly in free agency. But after watching Tom Brady celebrate another Super Bowl in another city, Belichick and his boss, Robert Kraft, had seen enough. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)

Brian Flores FILE - In this Jan. 19, 2017, file photo, New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, center, speaks with linebackers coach Brian Flores, left, and defensive line coach Brendan Daly during an NFL football team practice, in Foxborough, Mass. Flores is now the head coach of the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins hired Flores even though the Patriots’ Way hasn’t worked elsewhere. While Belichick owns a record six Super Bowl championship rings, his former New England assistants have combined for one playoff victory as head coaches. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File) (Steven Senne/AP)

Tom Brady NEW ORLEANS, UNITED STATES: New England Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady celebrates with head coach Bill Belichick (R) after their win over the St. Louis Rams 03 February, 2002 in Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Patriots defeated the Rams 20-17 for the NFL championship. AFP PHOTO/Jeff HAYNES (Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images) (JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images)

In a post on X, Schefter wrote, “Bill Belichick will want to continue coaching and is expected to draw interest from at least some of the other seven NFL teams that currently have head coach vacancies, quite possibly the Atlanta Falcons, per league sources.”

Bill Belichick will want to continue coaching and is expected to draw interest from at least some of the other seven NFL teams that currently have head coach vacancies, quite possibly the Atlanta Falcons, per league sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 11, 2024

Atlanta fired Arthur Smith as head coach after the team finished 7-10 for the third consecutive season. His dismissal came hours after the Falcons lost 48-17 to NFC South rival New Orleans on Sunday.

“The Atlanta Falcons are a team to watch if Belichick is available. They are interested, per sources,” The Athletic’s Dianna Russini wrote in a tweet earlier this week..

Atlanta is seemingly an appealing destination for any coach in search of a new job. While the Falcons have questions at the quarterback position, multiple pieces of the offense have been drafted in the first round of the NFL draft in recent years including running back Bijan Robinson (8th overall pick in 2023), wide receiver Drake London (8th overall pick in 2022), and tight end Kyle Pitts (4th overall pick in 2021).

Atlanta’s defense-- led by star safety Jessie Bates III -- is also a highly respectable unit. They ranked 11th in the NFL with just 321.1 total yards allowed through Week 18.

The Falcons hold the 8th overall draft pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.

Belichick coached the Patriots to a victory over the Falcons in Super Bowl LI, epically erasing a 28-3 third-quarter deficit.

Other NFL teams with head coaching openings include the Carolina Panthers, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, and Washington Commanders.

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