Edelman compared Bill Belichick’s quest for next job to Darth Vader

Less than a year after he and the Patriots parted ways, Bill Belichick seems to be flourishing in his second act as a media personality.

He has too many gigs to keep track of, and it’s keeping the 72-year-old coach both relevant and around the game.

But, according to Julian Edelman, viewers shouldn’t get too used to seeing Belichick in the media for long. He’s itching to get back into coaching, Edelman said.

“I haven’t really talked to Coach because he is so busy being a media butterfly right now, but there’s no shot he’s not going back to coach,” the Super Bowl LIII MVP told The Sporting News.

Edelman said Belichick, who interviewed for a coaching position with the Falcons last year, but was ultimately passed over in favor of Raheem Morris, is just biding his time so that he can get back to doing what he loves.

“This dude loves coaching,” Edelman said. “This is just all probably to keep his mind busy and he’s getting paid to evaluate and watch all the teams now. You’ve heard him talk about it. He’s always been so fixed on who we’re playing that week and evaluating his team — his team and the next-week team. It’s been really fun to get his perspective on all the teams, but he’s also probably gathering all this knowledge in his head.”

Belichick, who is second all-time in wins among NFL head coaches, is angling to break the record, Edelman said.

Belichick (333) is 14 wins from tying legendary Dolphins coach Don Shula (347).

“Bill wants that record,” Edelman said. “I don’t know for a fact — he’s never said it to me and he says speak for yourself, but dammit you know he wants that record.” 

Belichick, who was famously tight lipped-with the media during his coaching days, isn’t planning on staying out of the coaching game for long, Edelman said.

“Do you think this guy is sitting here and doing this for fun?” Edelman said. “No. This guy is Darth Vader. He’s taking everything. He’s watching it from afar. He’s going to self-evaluate himself. He’s using this as a learning experience.”