The SAG strike this past summer set all of our favorite TV shows back a few months. But this fall, there could be an absolute banger of a sitcom coming to FOX.
One of the main characters is a 71-year-old who is considered one of the greatest coaches of all time. He’s won six Super Bowls but hasn’t won since his co-star was written off and moved to Florida. After a few rough years, he’s looking to get back on his feet and get back in the public eye for a fresh start.
The other character is a 36-year-old quarterback coming off a torn Achilles. He was beloved in his previous home but could also be looking for a new start.
The two characters couldn’t be more different but unite under a simple truth. Bill Belichick and Kirk Cousins need each other, and it could create the NFL’s version of The Odd Couple.
Belichick is trying to return to the mountaintop after his post-Tom Brady era failed in New England. Part of the issue was his coaching staff that featured Matt Patricia, Joe Judge, and Bill O’Brien as offensive coordinators over the past two seasons. But the combination of Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe was nowhere close to his previous Hall of Fame quarterback.
Another reason for Belichick’s demise was his work as a general manager. While Brady was an “easy button” he could press to overcome flaws, his new quarterbacks couldn’t make up for some of his other mistakes. New England didn’t have reliable receivers in the last two years, and his most reliable asset was a running back room that shuffled between Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott.
But that doesn’t mean Belichick is washed. His defense ranked 18th in points and seventh in yards allowed last season. The Patriots also played in 12 one-score games, but they didn’t have the offense to turn those eight losses into gritty victories.
While that proved to be Belichick’s undoing in Foxborough, there are several destinations where this wouldn’t be an issue.
Think of the Los Angeles Chargers, who have a franchise quarterback in Justin Herbert and several weapons with Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams. While this sounds good on paper, the Chargers are staring at a rebuild. According to Over The Cap, they are sitting at $44.9 million over the salary cap.
The Seattle Seahawks could also be an attractive destination. But that would also require out-coaching Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco 49ers and Sean McVay’s Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West.
Other jobs in Las Vegas, Tennessee, Washington, and Carolina feature complex rebuilds. That’s probably why Belichick has a second interview lined up for the Atlanta Falcons.
Belichick would inherit a similar defense to the one he had in New England. The Falcons ranked 15th in points allowed and 11th in yards allowed. Atlanta also has a treasure chest of offensive weapons, including Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts.
They could use the eighth-overall pick to add another weapon to the offense, like Washington receiver Rome Odunze, or trade up to select Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt. They could also take an impact player on defense like Iowa cornerback Cooper DeJean or Alabama edge rusher Dallas Turner.
That would allow Belichick to reign in the NFC South, where teams have more questions than answers. The New Orleans Saints are spinning their wheels in Viking-like fashion, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are good but not great with Baker Mayfield. The Carolina Panthers are a trainwreck that resembles the type of teams that Belichick and Brady used to beat up while claiming 17 division titles.
Belichick could engage in a 2009 Brett Favre situation where he takes a team on the brink and turns it into a serious contender. But who could play the role of Favre?
Desmond Ridder is out of the question, and Belichick likely isn’t ready to turn the keys to a rookie quarterback. While he could steal Baker Mayfield, the Bucs could franchise-tag him. Ryan Tannehill and Gardner Minshew are also possibilities. Still, they don’t have the same punch that Cousins would bring to Atlanta.
There’s a clear incentive for Belichick to push the Falcons to sign Cousins. But why would Cousins want to go to Atlanta? He could stay in Minnesota and play for a team that has recently shown its appreciation for him. And it would go against the mission statement he offered a few weeks ago.
“It’s not about the dollars,” Cousins said. “It’s what the dollars represent.”
With a fat contract and a chain around his neck, Cousins could stick around and make defenses repent. Another season with 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns could be a lock – even after recovering from a torn Achilles. But would it take Cousins higher and fill that nook in his secret room with a Lombardi Trophy?
The Vikings will keep the light on for Cousins to return, but they have several other needs. They need to extend Justin Jefferson and Christian Darrisaw, and they should re-sign Danielle Hunter. Minnesota has needs along the defensive line and in the secondary. The best route could be to move on and select a quarterback in one of the deepest classes in recent memory.
Minnesota could offer Cousins a one-year deal to stay, but the front office might not be willing to go past that. Therefore, Cousins could look to find a situation with more security.
We’ve already talked about what the Falcons have on the roster, but they also have $26.3 million in cap space for 2024 and $95.6 million in 2025. With Cousins likely having one or two more years left, it makes sense for him to chase a ring. Atlanta could provide him with the perfect opportunity to get one.
The only question left is, will it work?
Belichick’s gruff exterior resembles Mike Zimmer’s cold demeanor, but there are signs that this union wouldn’t result in a sideline altercation. Belichick needs a quarterback, and Cousins wants to play for him.
“I’m not going to turn down an opportunity to play for a future Hall of Fame coach,” Cousins told CBS Sports’s Isabel Gonzalez. “But we’ll have to see where March leads. There’s just a lot of unknowns right now.”
There’s also a softer side of Belichick that Zimmer never seemed to have. Zimmer was all about football, but Belichick seemed to have a sense of humor that came out when he showed up dressed as a pirate to Randy Moss’ Halloween party.
The sight of Belichick skating around a roller rink dressed as a pirate is something straight out of The Office and could lead to more. Maybe Cousins cheers Belichick up when he’s having a bad day. Maybe Belichick drops some bars on a “Kirko Chainz” album.
The Falcons would certainly be entertained, and the sight of Cousins and Belichick dancing shirtless on the podium while holding the Lombardi Trophy could be better than anything in FOX, CBS, or NBC’s primetime lineup.
It all leads to some quality programming and could introduce the NFL to its newest Odd Couple.
