Bill Belichick's Jets rebound? he almost came back—then chose North Carolina instead

Bill Belichick, who once famously quit the Jets on the day he was supposed to become their head coach, reportedly reached out about their coaching vacancy before taking the reins at the University of North Carolina this week. The 72-year-old is well known for his love-hate relationship with the Jets, but this move? It’s pure Belichick—unexpected, and oh so fitting. The reports claim that the six-time Super Bowl winner inquired about New York's coaching job after the Jets let Robert Saleh go back in October. But don’t get your hopes up, Jets fans—the two sides never had a formal discussion, and it seems the team wasn’t all that interested in the return of their old tormentor. Classic Jets, am I right? This would not have been the first time Belichick and the Jets had an up-close and personal chat. In 2000, Bill was set to be the team’s head coach, but just hours before the big announcement, he bailed. His reason? A feud with then-Jets owner Woody Johnson. Allegedly, the young owner rubbed Belichick the wrong way, and the rest is history. Belichick filed a lawsuit to escape his contract, was traded to the Patriots, and promptly went on to win six Super Bowls while the Jets, well, floundered. Since then, their relationship has remained as frosty as the icy chill of Foxborough winters. Belichick’s infamous “Spygate” scandal only deepened the divide, with the Jets accusing the Patriots of filming their coaches during a game. But now, it seems that the 72-year-old coach—who's got six Super Bowl rings to his name—was, for a brief moment, interested in returning to the Big Apple. Kind of like an ex texting you, asking if you're still mad about that time they dumped you for the Patriots. After parting ways with Saleh, the Jets went into full-on coaching search mode, hoping to end their years-long hunt for stability. With a talented roster and a franchise that’s been mired in mediocrity for far too long, the Jets are looking for a leader to turn things around. Naturally, Belichick’s name came up. But was he really serious about coaching a team that had already spurned him once? Reports suggest Belichick simply wanted to test the waters. But with no formal discussions, it’s clear that either the Jets weren’t feeling it—or Belichick wasn’t quite ready to come back to the franchise that he still holds some resentment toward. Maybe he's not ready to kiss and make up with Woody Johnson, or maybe, he’s just over it. In a shocking twist, Belichick surprised the NFL world by accepting the head coaching job at the University of North Carolina. After decades of dominating NFL sidelines, it’s now time for Belichick to try his hand in the world of college football. Call it a "senior career shift" or a "midlife crisis"—whatever it is, it’s definitely got everyone talking. The transition to the college game is a significant departure for Belichick, but it’s hardly a retirement tour. With his vast knowledge of the game and success developing talent, Belichick is poised to shake things up in Chapel Hill. If anyone can win in a world where NIL deals and playoff expansion are the latest hurdles, it’s him. After all, this is a guy who managed to win six Super Bowls in an era dominated by the Patriots' culture . So, why not give college football a shot? Despite his flirtation with the Jets, it seems that their coaching search will continue. Will the Jets find the right man to lead them into the promised land? Or will they keep getting caught in the Belichick-shaped shadow of failure? With the pressure mounting and a new coaching staff already in place, it looks like New York’s hopes for a Belichickian comeback have officially been dashed. Maybe the Jets missed their chance. Or maybe, like everything else in their dysfunctional history, it wasn’t meant to be. Either way, the NFL coaching carousel is still spinning, and for now, Belichick’s legacy will remain firmly rooted in New England—and soon, North Carolina. Maybe this new venture will be the one that finally gives him the satisfaction of proving he can succeed outside of the NFL spotlight.