Bill Belichick will join Pat McAfee on ESPN's 2024 NFL Draft coverage next week

Pat McAfee has announced that Bill Belichick will join him on ESPN's coverage of the 2024 NFL Draft next week after the legendary head coach missed out on numerous NFL coaching jobs following his exit from the New England Patriots.

Showing off his six Super Bowl trophies while appearing on ESPN on Wednesday, the 72-year-old Belichick seemed in good spirits while being declared as an official presenter of this year's draft, which will include USC's Caleb Williams, Duke's Drake May, and Michigan's J.J. McCarthy, in Detroit from April 25-27.

Asked if he could imagine being with a 'bunch of idiots' from the Pat McAfee Show for his first live event post-coaching by no other than McAfee, himself, Belichick said: 'I'm looking forward to it. Draft Day, Draft Weekend is always an exciting time for everybody...

'For the teams that are building their teams, and the fans and for everybody [else] involved in it. It's a great event and I'm looking forward to seeing it from the other side.

He then joked: 'It'll be fun to be in Detroit, be with you guys, and get your expertise.'

Pat McAfee has announced Bill Belichick will join him on ESPN's coverage of the NFL Draft 

Belichick, 72, left the New England Patriots in Jan. after 23 seasons as the team's head coach

Despite not landing himself another head coaching job in the league this offseason after rumored interests from the Atlanta Falcons, L.A. Chargers and Dallas Cowboys, Belichick said he is still watching film on players in the Draft while taking a back seat from coaching. 

Belichick, who's considered to be the best head coach in NFL history, had been in the league for 23 seasons as a head coach before stepping down in January. He also served as an assistant and positions coach from 1975-2000, before landing his first head coaching job with the Patriots, making that 49 years in the league overall.

Asked what life is like without a job for the first time in nearly half a century ahead of the Draft, Belichick said: 'It's sort of like what I've been doing... you know... watching the players, specifically the ones that might be involved in our show. So, the guys at the top of the draft. But the first-round leans into the second round and there's a lot of correlation there so we'll talk about that next Thursday night.

'But, yeah, just trying to do some preparation... and you know, I've watched a lot of these guys in the fall and even some from last year when they were juniors or when they were still factors in evaluation the players in the '23 Draft. So, it's still an ongoing process and it's fun to keep up with. I always enjoy this part of the season.'

Breaking down 'draft myths' and what an actual draft board looks like with McAfee during the countdown to Draft Night next week, Belichick said he'll be 'ready to go' by the time he co-hosts ESPN's coverage of the event with the former Colts punter.

'We'll have our own little draft room set up as if we were the 33rd team and kind of watch the guys come off the board and talk about what other teams' needs are and potentially, if the trade conversations and those types of things going on... I think I can give a little insight into what those conversations will be in those rooms,' said Belichick. 

'I made a few trades,' he then joked, adding: 'Maybe Andy [Reid] and I can work out a trade this year. Andy Reid and I switched spots in the seventh round to keep our streak going.' 

Belichick and Reid are the only head coaches in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in their 60s. Since the latter won Super Bowl LVIII in his 25th season, he's the longest tenured head coach to win a Super Bowl in NFL history. 

Reid broke a tie between himself Bill Belichick for the accomplishment, as Reid won Super Bowl LVII in his 24th season and Belichick won in his 24th season as a head coach when he captured Super Bowl LIII with the Patriots in 2019.