Bill Belichick is eyeing the Las Vegas Raiders coaching staff as he fills out his own at the University of North Carolina.
On Dec. 11, Belichick made headlines by accepting the head coaching position at North Carolina. Shortly after the news broke, a report from ESPN’s Chris Low indicated that Raiders interim offensive coordinator Scott Turner was identified as a possibility to join Belichick as the Tar Heels’ offensive coordinator.
On Sunday, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport not only echoed the sentiment of Low, but took it a step further and announced that Turner was emerging as a top candidate for the position.
One note: #Raiders OC Scott Turner has emerged as a top target to become Bill Belichick’s OC at UNC. https://t.co/fjlgUTZMnF
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 15, 2024
Turner has served as the Raiders’ offensive coordinator since the team returned from their Week 10 bye, replacing Luke Getsy after he was fired when the team was 2-7. Unfortunately, the offense has still struggled to gain consistency, and the Raiders are 0-4 and have yet to score over 20 points since Turner took the helm.
With the team firmly in the league’s basement, there is no guarantee that the front office will keep head coach Antonio Pierce or his staff past this season, meaning Turner could possibly accept the North Carolina job with no strings attached.
Despite the Raiders’ lack of success this season, Turner still makes sense as a candidate for Belichick. While there is no denying the legendary head coach’s credentials, North Carolina will be Belichick’s first-ever collegiate coaching role. Turner does have experience in the NCAA, working there as recently as 2017 as an offensive analyst for the University of Michigan.
For Belichick, Turner is an ideal candidate. He has experience calling his own plays, he knows the kind of offense Belichick like to run due to Turner’s proximity to longtime assistant Josh McDaniels, and he stands out as someone who can help his head coach navigate the challenges of transitioning from the professional game to college.
With the uncertainty surrounding the Raiders after this long season is over, the opportunity to work under Belichick could not have come at a better time for Turner.
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