Predicting AFC East head coaches in 2023
New England Patriots: Bill Belichick
If Bill Belichick is still breathing, my guess is he’ll still be the head coach of the New England Patriots. This guy lives and breathes football. He is football. Bill Belichick will someday be the mascot of the Patriots, or his name will be on some kind of award to strive for in the NFL.
After a down year in 2020, Belichick had the Patriots with a rookie QB back in the postseason in 2021 and his team has been in it again all throughout 2022. I’m sure there will be some significant changes coming for the Patriots here in 2023 but the defense in New England is one of the best in the NFL and this team is always going to be disciplined.
New York Jets: Robert Saleh
I personally think that the Jets have one of the best head coaches in the NFL. There was a game between the Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers back in the 2018 season. The 49ers came into the game 2-10 with Nick Mullens as the starting quarterback. The Broncos were 6-6 and trying to claw their way into the playoffs.
Robert Saleh’s defense pitched a shutout through nearly three quarters and slammed the door on the Broncos. The cameras kept on cutting to Saleh as he pumped up his players on the sideline, getting amped up anytime guys on his — at the time rather patchwork — defense made a play.
Years later now, coaching the Jets, you can see how quickly Saleh has changed the overall culture with the Jets. They were a contender for a good chunk of the season. This team truly feels like it’s a competent QB away from being great.