Next Head Coach Odds: Bill Belichick Huge Favorite to Join Falcons Despite Adam Schefter Calling Atlanta Search ‘Wide Open’

The betting markets and ESPN insider Adam Schefter are not seeing eye-to-eye when it comes to the Atlanta Falcons’ head coaching search.

Bill Belichick gained even more traction to become the head coach in Atlanta overnight and now sits at overwhelming -425 odds, per DraftKings sportsbook on January 23. That equates to an implied probability of 81% that he lands the gig.

This comes in contrast to a nugget Tweeted out by Schefter two days prior, which termed the head coaching search ‘wide open.’

The Falcons have interviewed multiple candidates in the last couple of weeks and an article from The Athletic’s Josh Kendall on Tuesday said that Belichick to the Falcons has lost some momentum, and that it’s not a Belichick-or-bust mentality coming from owner Arthur Blank.

This could be a smokescreen or a negotiation, and the betting sites online certainly believe that Belichick will eventually end up with the Falcons.

If he doesn’t, it brings up an interesting betting opportunity.

The odds of Belichick coaching any other NFL team besides the ones listed comes in at +275, while not coaching an NFL team in 2024 lands at +750.

Here is the full list of Belichick’s next head coach odds:

• Atlanta Falcons -425
• Any Other NFL Team +275
• Not the Head Coach of an NFL Team +750
• Washington Commanders +1600
• Los Angeles Chargers +1600
• Carolina Panthers +5000
• New York Giants +20000
• New York Jets +20000

ESPN and The Athletic are very reputable publications, and both are reporting that this is far from a done deal.

Do the bettors know more than the insiders? Time will tell, but it has made for an interesting dichotomy as the Falcons continue to search for their Arthur Smith replacement in Atlanta.