The Bill Belichick era is over, but not all Belichicks may be out the door in Foxboro just yet.

According to Sports Illustrated, new Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo has offered defensive play-caller/linebackers coach Steve Belichick and safeties coach Brian Belichick the opportunity to return to the coaching staff next season. They are two of the team’s longest-tenured assistants, who helped mold the league’s top-ranked defense over the past five years by EPA. It’s unknown whether Steve and/or Brian, both sons of Bill Belichick, would prefer to follow their father to another team if Bill is hired elsewhere.

Steve Belichick just concluded his 12th season in coaching and fifth as the Pats’ primary defensive play-caller. He previously coached the team’s safeties and served as a low-level coaching assistant. Steve Belichick grew close with Mayo during the end of Mayo’s playing career and has worked side-by-side with him ever since Mayo joined the coaching ranks in 2019.

Brian Belichick coached the Patriots’ safeties each of the past four seasons, and in three of those four years, the defense ranked top-3 in interceptions. Brian, Bill’s youngest son, joined the organization in 2016 as a scouting assistant, then moved to the coaching side a year later.

The Patriots’ only other defensive assistants are DeMarcus Covington (defensive line), Mike Pellegrino (cornerbacks) and Keith Jones (Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship/defensive line). It’s unclear how Mayo will handle the offensive staff, which oversaw the NFL’s second-lowest scoring offense last year.

Incumbent offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien is expected to be included in any search for the team’s next lead offensive coach, which could expand outside the Belichick coaching tree.