Belichick Plan Threatened Bo Nix.
Sean Payton's Belichick Coaching Plan Could Have Damaged Bo Nix, Mac Jones Warns.
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Sean Payton reportedly considered handing the Denver Broncos' head-coaching job to Bill Belichick — temporarily — so Belichick could reach 15 wins and break Don Shula's all-time record of 347 career victories, according to Kansas City Star. The plan never happened. But the mere fact it was floated raises an uncomfortable question: what would that kind of instability have done to second-year quarterback Bo Nix?
Columnist Sean Keeler draws a direct line from Belichick's messy final years in New England to the struggles of former Patriots quarterback Mac Jones. The lesson, Keeler argues, is that young quarterbacks need stability above all else — and any coaching chaos in Denver could have derailed Nix just as it derailed Jones.
Mac Jones Shows What Coaching Chaos Does to a Young QB
Mac Jones had a promising rookie season in 2021 under Josh McDaniels. His numbers that year were close to what Nix posted in 2024. But then Belichick split offensive coordinator duties between Matt Patricia and Joe Judge — neither of whom was a real offensive mind, according to Star-Telegram. The results were ugly.
New England's offense fell from sixth in points scored in 2021 to 17th in 2022. Jones never fully recovered. He has bounced around the league since, still searching for consistency. The takeaway is simple: one bad coaching decision can set a young quarterback back by years.
Payton's Belichick Idea Was a Record-Chasing Scheme
When Belichick and the Patriots parted ways in 2024, Payton apparently explored a wild idea. He would bring Belichick to Denver as a temporary head coach, according to Myrtle Beach Online. The arrangement would last just long enough for Belichick to win 15 games — enough to surpass Shula's record of 347 career wins.
After hitting that milestone, Payton would take back the reins. It sounds almost like a business deal. But an NFL locker room is not a sublet apartment. Asking players — especially a developing quarterback — to buy into a two-coach system built around a personal milestone is a recipe for confusion.
Bo Nix Dodged a Bullet in His Critical Second Year
Nix finished his rookie season in 2024 with numbers comparable to what Jones put up in 2021. That makes year two enormous for his development. Young quarterbacks need a single clear voice, a stable system, and a coach who is fully invested in their growth — not one with an exit plan, according to Mahoning Matters.
Payton ultimately did not bring Belichick aboard. Nix gets to enter 2025 with his head coach fully committed. But the fact the idea got serious consideration at all is worth noting. In the NFL, front-office decisions off the field shape careers just as much as anything that happens on it.
Belichick's Legacy Now Carries a Warning Label
Belichick is one of the greatest coaches in NFL history. His 347 career wins speak for themselves. But his final seasons in New England showed a different side. His offensive decisions hurt Jones badly. The Patricia-Judge experiment was widely criticized, according to San Luis Obispo Tribune.
Bringing that same coach into Denver — even briefly — would have injected real risk into a franchise finally showing signs of life. Payton made the right call by keeping the plan on the shelf. For Bo Nix, stability is not just a nicety. Right now, it is everything.
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