JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The New York Jets have a head coaching vacancy, and until this week, Bill Belichick needed a job. This led to the unthinkable.

Belichick, who left the Jets in 2000, tormented them for two decades as coach of the New England Patriots and was recently critical of owner Woody Johnson, reached out personally to inquire about the opening, a source said Saturday confirmed to ESPN.

The Athletic first reported that Belichick’s camp had contacted the Jets, with the New York Post reporting that Belichick himself made the request. There have been no formal discussions with the Jets, who released Robert Saleh on Oct. 7.

A source close to Belichick expressed serious doubts about whether he was genuinely interested, suggesting it may simply have been a case of due diligence. Belichick reviewed NFL vacancies and potential positions before accepting the job at the University of North Carolina, ESPN’s Seth Wickersham reported.

Belichick has expressed his disdain for the Jets for years, so a reunion was never a realistic possibility. It’s controversial now because Belichick was introduced as the Tar Heels’ coach on Thursday, but based on history, it’s an eyebrow-raising development.

Belichick, in his various media roles, criticized Johnson for his decision not to fire Saleh until five games into the season. The dispute goes back a quarter of a century.

After serving on Bill Parcells’ staff from 1997 to 1999, Belichick left the Jets on the day he was set to succeed Parcells, famously resigning as “HC of the NY Jets.” Belichick quit in part because he didn’t want to work for Johnson, who had just bought the team.

Belichick sued to have his Jets contract terminated, which led to a move to New England, where he won six Super Bowls.

In 2007, the Jets reported Belichick for illegally videotaping their coaches during a game, sparking the Spygate scandal.

On November 25, Johnson announced the hiring of the 33rd team to help the Jets search for a new coach and new general manager. GM Joe Douglas was fired on November 19th.

Saleh and Douglas were replaced by interim leaders Jeff Ulbrich and Phil Savage, respectively.