Bill Belichick is preparing for his second ride in the coaching carousel in as many seasons. While the former Patriots coach likely won’t interview for any openings until the regular season ends, there’s a team that might already have an edge to hire him.

The Jaguars are viewed as the team most likely to hire Belichick among 10 coaches and executives, The Athletic‘s Dianna Russini reported Saturday. In Russini’s informal poll, the Cowboys and Buccaneers were viewed as the other top likely landing spots for Belichick.

Jacksonville seemingly emerged as a potential landing spot for Belichick over the last week. It was reported prior to the Jaguars’ Week 11 loss to the Lions that the team could fire head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke as early as this week.

Neither Pederson nor Baalke were fired following the Jaguars’ 52-6 drubbing against the Lions as they entered their bye week. But they’re 2-9, and with reports already emerging that they’re considering firing Pederson, it seems likely that they’ll have a coaching vacancy this offseason.

Following the Jaguars’ loss to the Lions, Russini also pointed to Jacksonville as a “potential destination” for Belichick. She also noted that it would be “highly unlikely” that Belichick would form a partnership with Baalke, citing multiple sources.

Belichick had complete control over the Patriots’ roster and was their de facto general manager for the majority of his 24-year tenure with the team. It’s unclear if he’s seeking to have similar control at his next stop. He told Falcons owner Arthur Blank that he was willing to work with the decision-makers the team had in place when he interviewed with the franchise last offseason, ESPN reported in April.

What’s seemingly become clear, though, is that Belichick wants to return to coaching in 2025. It’s been reported on numerous occasions that he’s eyeing a return, with some of his former players also believing that he wants to get back to coaching after the Patriots let him go in January.

If Jacksonville is Belichick’s next home, he’ll take over a team that’s underwhelmed over the last two seasons after winning the AFC South in 2022. The Jaguars might have the most talented quarterback of all the teams set to have a coaching vacancy this offseason, but Trevor Lawrence has had struggles this season, too. He’s thrown for 2,004 yards, 11 touchdowns, and six interceptions to go with an 87.9 passer rating, which would be his lowest since his rookie season.

Belichick’s defensive expertise could help Jacksonville, though. The Jaguars rank last in yards allowed and are 30th in scoring defense this season. Belichick had the Patriots in the top half of the league in both categories last season.

Of course, Mac Jones, who seemed to be a point of contention in Belichick’s final two seasons with the Patriots, is in Jacksonville. But he isn’t under contract for the 2025 season.

As for the Cowboys and Buccaneers, each team has been ravaged by injuries this season after winning their respective divisions in 2023. Dallas is 3-7 with Dak Prescott out for the season and head coach Mike McCarthy in the final season of his contract.

Tampa Bay started the season strong, going 4-2 in its first six games. But injuries to Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and others have caused the team to lose four in a row.