Raiders minority owner Tom Brady recently spoke to Bill Belichick, asking what it would take for his old head coach to return to the NFL, NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero reported Wednesday.

Belichick is currently the head coach of the University of North Carolina. He has a $10 million buyout in his five-year, $50 million contract if he leaves before June 1, 2025. At that point, his buyout decreases down to $1 million. An NFL team or Belichick himself could pay the buyout.

Related Articles

Patriots put in interview request with fifth head coaching candidate

Patriots have 21 players set to hit free agency during 2025 offseason

Report: Patriots to interview Mike Vrabel for head-coaching job Thursday

Vikings DC Brian Flores interested in Patriots’ head-coaching job

Patriots defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington reportedly interviewing with AFC team

The Athletic’s Dianna Russini quickly threw water on the idea, with sources telling her Belichick “has no plans to return to the NFL.”

Pelissero said one of the other five teams with head-coaching openings also reached out to Belichick. The Patriots, Jets, Saints, Bears and Jaguars are also in the search for a new head coach.

The Raiders fired head coach Antonio Pierce on Tuesday but kept general manager Tom Telesco.

Brady became a minority owner of the Raiders in October. He also still serves as FOX’s top color commentator.

A reunion of Brady and Belichick, who combined for six Super Bowl titles in New England, would pretty quickly make the Raiders a second-favorite team of many Patriots fans.

Belichick has brought on his son, Steve Belichick, a former Patriots linebackers coach, as UNC’s defensive coordinator and Mike Lombardi, an ex-Raiders and Patriots front-office executive, as the Tar Heels’ general manager.