ACC Football

Legendary head coach Bill Belichick has officially ditched the navy blue of the New England Patriots for Carolina Blue.

Belichick was officially introduced as the next head coach of the UNC football team on Thursday in a press conference that featured multiple memorable moments.

The six-time Super Bowl champion head coach revealed that he has been considering coaching in college football for quite a while, but the timing hasn't worked out until now. He called it a "kind of dream come true":

In a hilarious moment, North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham presented Belichick with his first short-sleeve UNC hoodie and then put on a suit jacket with the sleeves cut off in solidarity:

Belichick's father, Steve, served as an assistant coach for the Tar Heels from 1953 to 1955, and he showed off his dad's team sweatshirt that he saved all this time:

After going unhired by NFL teams during the 2024 hiring cycle, Belichick spent this season working as an analyst for multiple networks. Still, at 72 years old, he hasn't lost his passion for coaching:

Still, Belichick admitted that he's gained a new appreciation for the media in his brief time as an analyst:

When asked about what he hopes to accomplish after taking over as head coach of UNC, Belichick said his priority is to impart his knowledge to the next generation of football players:

Belichick explained his thought process in putting his coaching staff together and revealed that former Cleveland Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens is his first hire. Kitchens was already on staff at UNC after serving as tight ends coach and run game coordinator for the past two seasons and briefly holding the interim head coach position after Mack Brown was fired following the team's 6-6 finish to this year:

Belichick, who signed a five-year, $50 million contract, said he's confident in his ability to continue coaching for years to come:

However, coaching in college will be an adjustment, as NIL rules, transfer portal changes and conference realignment have created a new landscape for coaches to navigate. Many wondered if Belichick would be willing to go through the throes of recruiting, like in-home visits, and he answered affirmatively:

Belichick also shot down the rumors that he submitted a 400-page "organizational bible" that included stipulations and demands before he was hired:

Perhaps most importantly, Belichick feels like he's where he's supposed to be. He provided a little tidbit of growing up while his dad worked for UNC that serves as the primary philosophy of any Tar Heels head coach:

UNC is set to enter a new era under Belichick, and it's clear that he's excited about his new challenge in his return to coaching.

Bill Belichick made it abundantly clear that taking the head coaching job at North Carolina isn't part of a grand plan to return to the NFL.

Belichick said Thursday during his introductory press conference with the Tar Heels that he "didn't come here to leave." He added that working in college football is a "dream come true."

Given his age, it goes without saying that the 72-year-old Belichick is basically closing the door on the NFL by choosing to take the Carolina job. But the response is probably something he was hoping to enter into the record because negative recruiting is part of college sports.

When they're speaking with prospective recruits, opposing coaches will almost certainly float the idea that Belichick is just using UNC to get one more shot in the NFL whether it's true or not.

Beyond the fact it looks like NFL teams writ large have moved on from the six-time Super Bowl champion, ESPN's Seth Wickersham detailed how he grew disaffected with how teams are running their operations now.

Wickersham cited one source who said Belichick became "disgusted" with the NFL, and another source said accepting North Carolina's offer is "a big f--k you" to the league.

In Chapel Hill, the legendary coach will have the freedom to pretty much build the program as he sees fit. During an appearance this week on The Pat McAfee Show before his deal with NFL was official, he said he envisioned leading "an NFL program at a college level."

In Thursday's press conference, he pointed to his player development track record with the New England Patriots to help bolster his pitch.

For now, Belichick and North Carolina are firmly in their honeymoon phase. They're both hoping the momentum from his hire will not only help pad the Tar Heels' NIL coffers but also entice high school players and those in the transfer portal to sign on for 2025.

Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury summed up what a lot of fans are feeling with the news that Bill Belichick is North Carolina's new football coach.

"I will have to see him on the sideline to believe that's happening," Kingsbury said Thursday, per the Washington Post's Nicki Jhabvala. "We'll see how the NFL jobs search goes and all that. I will have to see him on the sideline coaching in Chapel Hill to believe that's happening."

Kingsbury was also candid about how he thinks Belichick might operate in a college setting:

When the six-time Super Bowl champion was first linked with the UNC job, a lot of fans probably considered it as his way of trying to gain some leverage in any negotiations with NFL teams. As the days unfolded, it became clear his pursuit of the vacancy was entirely genuine.

ESPN's Seth Wickersham reported that Belichick had been warming to the idea of coaching in college for a while and that he grew "'disgusted' in what he believes the NFL had become."

The 72-year-old's pitch to North Carolina reportedly included an "organizational bible" totaling 400 pages that laid out his entire vision. He offered a peek into that plan during his appearance this week on The Pat McAfee Show:

Belichick's success in the NFL speaks for itself. He's the greatest coach of the modern era.

Major college sports are also increasingly looking like their pro equivalents thanks to the arrival of NIL and the transfer portal as well. Schools are beginning to build front office-like structures internally because the duties behind managing a roster have expanded so much.

Because of that, going from NFL coaching to working in college may not be the jarring transition it once was.

Still, the risk behind hiring somebody—no matter how decorated—without any college coaching experience to lead such a large-scale project is pretty obvious.

And the sight of Belichick wearing Carolina Blue will take some getting used to.

Bill Belichick has the support of one of the biggest names in college football as he prepares to take over as the head coach of North Carolina.

Colorado head coach Deion Sanders took to social media Thursday and said the Tar Heels hiring the legendary coach "is a great thing for College Football" and compared his overall impact on the coaching profession to that of Nick Saban:

There are some parallels between Belichick taking over at North Carolina and when Sanders took over at Colorado.

Both were name-brand programs looking for a much-needed spark. The Buffaloes have one double-digit win season since 2001, while the Tar Heels have just one since 1997. Sanders generated far more attention than Colorado had seen in years and put the program firmly under the spotlight.

Belichick will surely do the same for North Carolina.

It was a bumpy start for Sanders, as the Buffaloes went 4-8 in his first season as head coach in 2023. However, they made significant strides into his second season and went 9-3 while remaining a factor in the Big 12 race until the final weekend.

While a move from the loaded Pac-12 to the more manageable Big 12 certainly helped, Sanders deserves plenty of credit for quickly turning the Buffaloes' fortunes around in just two years.

Belichick will look to do the same for the Tar Heels after they went 6-6 this season and fired head coach Mack Brown.

It may take some time until they catch up to the likes of Clemson, SMU and Miami in the ACC, but the new coach provides instant name recognition that will surely help on the recruiting trail and with the transfer portal. After all, he is a six-time Super Bowl champion and arguably the greatest coach in NFL history.

There are surely far more prospects who now have North Carolina on their radar than there was even 48 hours ago, and Belichick will look to parlay that into a quick turnaround much like Sanders did at Colorado.

As Bill Belichick prepares to be officially announced as North Carolina's new head coach on Thursday, he is already at work recruiting players to the Tar Heels for the 2025 season.

Per On3 Sports, North Carolina has given an offer to Malachi Hosley after the running back entered the transfer portal earlier this month following a successful two-year stint at Penn.

Per The Athletic's Brendan Marks, Belichick agreed to a five-year, $50 million deal to become the Tar Heels' new head coach.

Brian Murphy of WRAL added that North Carolina's board of trustees approved the contract and an introductory press conference will be held for Belichick on Thursday at 2 p.m. ET.

This marks the first time that Belichick will coach at the college level. He spent 48 consecutive years coaching in the NFL from 1975 to 2023, with the final 24 years being head coach of the New England Patriots.

The North Carolina job opened up on Nov. 26 when Mack Brown was fired after six seasons. He led the program to bowl games all six years, including 2024. Freddie Kitchens, who has been tight ends coach and run game coordinator on Brown's staff since 2023, will be the interim head coach for the Fenway Bowl against Connecticut on Dec. 28.

Hosley announced on Nov. 25 that he was entering the transfer portal following a successful two-year stint at Penn.

The Georgia native was named to the All-Ivy league first team and Ivy League Rookie of the Year as a freshman in 2023. He ran for 732 yards and seven touchdowns in nine games.

As a sophomore in 2024, Hosley led the Ivy League with 1,192 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. His 6.2 yards per carry led all players in the conference with at least 100 rushing attempts.

Given the uncertain coaching situation in North Carolina prior to the Belichick announcement, the Tar Heels currently have the lowest-ranked 2025 recruiting class in the ACC by 247Sports' composite rankings.

The incoming freshman class features nine total commits, including two 4-star players in quarterback Bryce Baker and EDGE Austin Alexander.

Bill Belichick made the move from the NFL to college football—with a brief detour into some media duties this year—on Wednesday, officially becoming the head coach at North Carolina.

His former quarterback, Tom Brady, reacted to the news by referencing the old New England Patriots' philosophy, "The Patriot Way."

Former Patriots running back Kevin Faulk offered his own definition for "The Patriot Way" in an article for The Players' Tribune back in 2017:

Some people say it's the way Coach Belichick runs the team, preaching accountability and placing a strong emphasis on doing your job. Some say it's our style of play, with Brady as our quarterback. But truthfully, it's neither. The Patriot Way ain't about nothing but winning, man. That's it. See, Coach Belichick is the kind of guy who doesn't care what you do on your own time. He wants you to know football and he wants you to come to work every day and do your job to the best of your ability. Anything else, he doesn't really care.

"The Patriot Way" resulted in six titles during the Belichick and Brady years, and trying to mimic that type of success at North Carolina—traditionally a basketball school—will be no easy task. And unlike in the NFL, Belichick may need to reiterate to his players that keeping their grades up to maintain eligibility is important.

The transition will be a lot smoother, however, if North Carolina's players understand the central tenet of a Belichick team—it ain't about nothing but winning, man.

UNC head coach Bill Belichick will reportedly have $20 million in NIL money to work with when he arrives in Chapel Hill, and he'll be flanked by 30 new staffers as well.

Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported the news.

Belichick signed a five-year deal worth a reported $50 million to become head coach of the Tar Heels.

Ollie Connolly of the Guardian previously reported Belichick had agreed to become UNC's next head coach but that the ball was basically in the university's court after he gave them a long list of how he wants things done, in essence.

It's clear the two sides are on the same page now. Belichick is also bringing aboard Michael Lombardi, who he worked with during his coaching days with the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots. Lombardi will be the football program's general manager.

Belichick's first game leading UNC will be Aug. 30, 2025 when the Tar Heels face TCU.

North Carolina announced it hired Bill Belichick as its next head coach Wednesday, which means those in the NFL don't have to worry about him in the immediate future.

"I was just tired of losing to him," an AFC general manager said, per Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports. "My thing is, good, go to college.

"Who knows if he'll win there, but I do know he can still here. And I know a lot of people didn't want to deal with an angry or extra motivated version of Coach Belichick. That's not a fun proposition."

Belichick may have had some additional motivation after no NFL team hired him last offseason when he and the New England Patriots parted ways. What's more, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Wednesday that there was a "sense" he wasn't going to generate much interest this offseason either.

Perhaps that led to his decision to accept a head coaching job at the college level for the first time in his career.

That means North Carolina has the same coach who reached nine Super Bowls and won six Lombardi Trophies during his time with the Patriots leading its program against ACC foes. His 333 combined regular-season and playoff wins are the second-highest mark in NFL history behind Don Shula's 347, and many of those wins came against AFC teams.

It comes as no surprise, then, that it was an AFC general manager who was relieved to see him go to the college game.

Maybe he will return to the NFL one day, but he is now starting a new challenge at 72 years old as he attempts to add to his already incredible legacy.

Bill Belichick stunned the football world when he reportedly chose to become the next head coach of North Carolina, but he may not have had many competing offers waiting for him in the NFL.

"The sense from NFL owners meetings is that Bill Belichick simply hadn't garnered much NFL interest if at all this cycle," ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported Wednesday. "Perhaps that would have changed, but Belichick goes with the sure thing—and a fascinating new start."

Fowler's report came after ESPN's Adam Schefter, Pete Thamel and Chris Low reported the legendary coach was "finalizing a deal" with the Tar Heels.

According to Ralph D. Russo and Brendan Marks of The Athletic, that deal will be worth $30 million across three years.

Had Belichick not taken the job with the Tar Heels, this may have ended up being the second straight offseason where he was unable to land a position in the NFL.

After all, no other NFL team hired him last offseason after he and the New England Patriots went their separate ways following the 2023 campaign. He may be arguably the best coach in league history, but he went 4-13 in his final year with the Patriots and finished with a losing record in three of his last four seasons.

Perhaps that, along with his age (72), tempered enthusiasm from NFL teams looking to make a coaching change.

Still, he has been to nine Super Bowls with six Lombardi Trophies on his resume. His 333 combined regular-season and playoff wins are the second-best mark of all-time and only 14 victories behind Don Shula's record.

Yet a run at that record will have to wait, as Belichick will be a head coach at the collegiate level for the first time in his career.

That means he will have to navigate a number of different challenges he never had to deal with in the NFL, including recruiting, the transfer portal, NIL opportunities and even his players balancing the classroom with time dedicated to football.

And North Carolina is not exactly a powerhouse program with one double-digit win season since 1997 and its last ACC title coming back in 1980.

If he finds success with this endeavor, it will only add to his already legendary resume.

Arguably the greatest coach in NFL history is taking on a new challenge at 72 years old.

And it is not a new challenge in the league he grew so familiar with during his coaching career.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Pete Thamel and Chris Low, Bill Belichick is "finalizing a deal to become the new head coach at North Carolina" after the ACC program fired Mack Brown following a 6-6 season.

It is rather shocking to see an NFL legend taking over a football program that has been largely mediocre throughout its existence, especially since he is so close to being the winningest head coach in NFL history.

Counting playoff games, Belichick has 333 wins from his 29 years as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns (five years) and New England Patriots (24 years). The majority of those came as he helped orchestrate arguably the greatest dynasty in league history alongside Tom Brady in New England, and he was within striking distance of the record when he and the AFC East team went their separate ways following the 2023 campaign.

Don Shula holds the record with 347 wins, and it was easy to speculate that Belichick would return to the NFL after taking a year off to do media in 2024 with an eye on that record.

After all, he could achieve that total within two seasons even with a middle-of-the-road franchise.

He also could have chased another Super Bowl after becoming so synonymous with the sport's biggest stage during his peak on the Patriots. Here is a look at the nine times he went to the Super Bowl with New England:

• 2001 season: Defeated St. Louis Rams 20-17 in Super Bowl XXXVI
• 2003 season: Defeated Carolina Panthers 32-29 in Super Bowl XXXVIII
• 2004 season: Defeated Philadelphia Eagles 24-21 in Super Bowl XXXIX
• 2007 season: Lost to New York Giants 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII
• 2011 season: Lost to New York Giants 21-17 in Super Bowl XLVI
• 2014 season: Defeated Seattle Seahawks 28-24 in Super Bowl XLIX
• 2016 season: Defeated Atlanta Falcons 34-28 in Super Bowl LI
• 2017 season: Lost to Philadelphia Eagles 41-33 in Super Bowl LII
• 2018 season: Defeated Los Angeles Rams 13-3 in Super Bowl LIII

Instead, he will look to revitalize a North Carolina team that is overshadowed by the basketball program and has one double-digit win season since 1997.

The Tar Heels haven't won an ACC title since 1980 and have plenty of ground to make up if they are ever going to be considered a threat for the 12-time College Football Playoff in the near future.

Yet hiring perhaps the best coach in the sport's history is quite the starting point for a rebuild, and whether Belichick can recruit and navigate the modern-day college game with the transfer portal, NIL opportunities, rivalries and more will determine whether this experiment ends in a successful way.

One thing is for sure. There will be far more appointment-viewing games in the ACC next season.