What happened: When Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots divorced in 2024, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton weighed an unprecedented proposal. Payton considered asking owner Greg Penner to hire Belichick as head coach until he secured 15 victories. That total would have been enough to surpass Don Shula's career record of 347 wins.

Why it matters: The scenario highlights the immense respect Belichick commands across the league. Payton was apparently willing to adjust his own position to help cement a peer's legacy atop the all-time list. Such an arrangement would have represented a historically unique transfer of power for an NFL franchise.

What to watch: The unusual proposal never materialized, and Belichick spent the 2024 season away from the sidelines. Payton remains focused on leading the Denver program into the upcoming 2026 campaign.