Bill Belichick Rumors: UNC CFB Expected to Commit $20M for NIL After HC Contract
Dec 12, 2024
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 16: NFL analyst Bill Belichick looks on during the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons on September 15, 2024 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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.
The expectation is that NIL at UNC will be upwards of $20 million for Belichick’s program. There will be as many as 30 new staffers as well. Massive commitments from Carolina to the new head coach and his program.
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.
Update: Belichick has agreed to become the next UNC coach. Belichick handed the school a 400 page “organizational bible” with structure, payment plans, staffing choices etc. decisions on whether to commit with UNC. He is expected to know their decision within 24 hours https://t.co/DAV2yX9Mn5
Belichick has a college and pro version of his updated manual and has shared it with other schools and NFL teams. But he drafted a new one specific to UNC that touched on every aspect of the program and school. Will need sign off from AD, chancellor, trustees and boosters
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.
AFC GM Was 'Tired of Losing' to Bill Belichick, 'Good' to See Him Sign UNC Contract
Dec 12, 2024
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 16: NFL analyst Bill Belichick looks on during the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons on September 15, 2024 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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 Rumors: HC 'Hadn't Garnered Much NFL Interest' Before UNC Contract
Dec 11, 2024
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - JANUARY 11: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots speaks to the media during a press conference at Gillette Stadium on January 11, 2024 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Belichick announced he is stepping down as head coach after 24 seasons with the team. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
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.
Examining Bill Belichick's Wins Total, Super Bowl Resume After Leaving NFL for UNC
Dec 11, 2024
HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots pats The Vince Lombardi at the Super Bowl Winner and MVP press conference on February 6, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
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.
Bill Belichick's UNC Depth Chart, 2025 Recruiting Class Ranking After HC Contract
Dec 11, 2024
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 16: NFL analyst Bill Belichick looks on during the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons on September 15, 2024 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
UNC is hiring Bill Belichick to be its next head coach, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
🚨 🚨 🚨
Former #Patriots coach Bill Belichick, the greatest coach of all time, will become the next coach at the University of North Carolina, sources say. The deal is done.
From Super Bowls to college football. Just like Bill Walsh. Just like Deion Sanders. Now, Belichick. pic.twitter.com/OtY4Ekbqgv
Belichick takes over a UNC team that's gone 6-6 (3-5 in ACC) in 2024 with the Fenway Bowl against UConn remaining. The Tar Heels previously announced that this would be head coach Mack Brown's final season. Interim coach Freddie Kitchens will lead UNC in its final 2024 contest, which will take place on Dec. 28.
Belichick, who won two Super Bowls as the New York Giants' defensive coordinator before adding six more Lombardi Trophies as the New England Patriots' head coach, has a lot of work to do.
UNC is last (17th) in the ACC in 247Sports' listing of class of 2025 recruits. Of course, it's not uncommon whatsoever for less-heralded recruits to shine in college, but Belichick will likely hit the recruiting trail and transfer portal pretty hard.
He does have talent to work with, of course. The 2025 group is led by an exciting talent in 4-star quarterback Bryce Baker, the 13th-ranked player at his position in his class. He is one of two hard commits, with 3-star edge-rusher Austin Alexander being the other one.
The 2024 UNC depth chart is available here via Tar Heel Times.
Obviously, there's plenty of work to be done on the 2025 UNC roster, but here's a look at what a two-deep depth chart could potentially look like next season (at the moment), removing departing players (either due to an exhaustion of eligibility or the transfer portal) and adding some recruits.
Strong Safety: Senior Will Hardy, Sophomore Malcolm Ziglar
Cornerback: Sophomore Ty Adams, Sophomore Zion Ferguson
Star: Junior Kaleb Cost, Sophomore Tre Miller
Special Teams
Kicker: Junior Liam Boyd, Sophomore Lucas Osada
Punter: Senior Tom Maginness, Sophomore Lucas Osada
Belichick is a defensive coach, so he'll be a good fit on a team that needs its most work on that side of the ball. UNC finished 91st in Division I FBS in scoring defense last year, including allowing 70 points against James Madison.
The Tar Heels also notably finished 3-5 in conference despite facing a weaker conference schedule in which they avoided 8-0 SMU, 7-1 Clemson and 6-2 Miami, the league's top three teams.
So Belichick arrives in Chapel Hill with much to address, but he has one of the best coaching resumes in sports history and can certainly turn this team around.
Bill Belichick's UNC HC Contract Stuns CFB Fans After Historic NFL Career
Dec 11, 2024
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 16: NFL analyst Bill Belichick looks on during the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons on September 15, 2024 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Bill Belichick is heading to the college game after all.
The legendary head coach is filling the vacancy at North Carolina after rumors had linked him to the Tar Heels for the past week.
There are countless questions about the fit between Belichick and North Carolina.
How will a coach who worked in the NFL for parts of five decades adjust to the college game or the demands of recruiting? Will his coaching methods translate with kids in the same way they did with professionals? Will North Carolina be able to compete with other major football programs on the NIL front, given the resources that go to the men's basketball team?
Belichick has been lining up potential staff members to go with him for days and also exploring possible portal additions. The portal opened Monday. https://t.co/WWVx52fyJc
Bill Belichick makes Heel turn, and goes to UNC. Fascinated to see how this plays out. Can sell players on no one developing them better for NFL. But staff will be important because I don't see him spearheading the recruiting. Obviously, he loves to coach. It is in his blood. And…
There's no doubt that he's a major splash as a hire, and his name-brand appeal and the pedigree of being a six-time champion as an NFL head coach should aid in recruiting. More than likely, he'll delegate many of the recruiting obligations to his staff, instead focusing on program-building and Xs and Os.
During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show earlier in the week, he laid out his vision for leading a college program.
"If I was in a college program, the college program would be a pipeline to the NFL for the players that had the ability to play in the NFL," he said. "It would be a professional program—training, nutrition, scheme, coaching and techniques that would transfer to the NFL."
Bill Belichick emphasized "IF" he was coaching in a college program, it would be "a professional program." 👀 @PatMcAfeeShow
"The college program would be a pipeline to the NFL for the players that have the ability to play in the NFL." pic.twitter.com/p2raPzm2DN
Belichick now becomes the most intriguing and high-profile college coach outside of Deion Sanders. While it's unlikely he'll turn North Carolina's sideline into a celebrity-sighting bonanza like Colorado, the Tar Heels are now a team to watch going forward, if only to see if Belichick can come anywhere close to replicating his NFL success.
Bill Belichick, UNC Agree to 5-Year HC Contract Worth Reported $50M After NFL Career
Dec 11, 2024
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 16: NFL analyst Bill Belichick looks on during the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons on September 15, 2024 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Legendary head coach Bill Belichick will be returning to the sidelines in 2025, but he won't be doing so in the NFL.
Belichick has agreed to a five-year deal to take over as head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, the program announced Wednesday.
According to The Athletic's Brendan Marks, the deal is worth $50 million over five years.
"I am excited for the opportunity at UNC-Chapel Hill. I grew up around college football with my Dad and treasured those times," Belichick said in a press release. "I have always wanted to coach in college and now I look forward to building the football program in Chapel Hill."
The news comes after ESPN's Adam Schefter, Pete Thamel and Chris Low, reported that Belichick was "finalizing a deal" to become UNC's next head coach.
Michael Lombardi, a former NFL general manager who worked with the New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Las Vegas Raiders and Cleveland Browns, will also join Belichick at UNC as the program's general manager.
"I'm excited to join Coach Belichick at North Carolina," Lombardi said, per Bill Adee of VSiN. "Although leaving my VSIN family will be hard, I'm excited to return to helping build a winning program. I'm forever thankful for all the great people at VSIN, especially Bill Adee and the Musburger family."
The deal comes after a week of rumors linking Belichick to the job opening for the Tar Heels, who fired head coach Mack Brown after their 6-6 finish to the 2024 season. Brown, who was in his second stint as UNC head coach, led the team to a combined 44-33 record over the last six seasons with five bowl game appearances.
Adam Smith of 247Sports reported on Wednesday that UNC was finalizing a contract for Belichick, with the school's Board of Trustees scheduling an emergency meeting to approve the hire. It apparently didn't take long for the 72-year-old to be brought in to lead a new era for the Tar Heels.
Undoubtedly one of the greatest football coaches of all time, Belichick is a six-time Super Bowl champion from his iconic run with the Patriots and also earned two more Super Bowl rings as an assistant under Bill Parcells with the New York Giants. His 333 career NFL wins rank second in league history behind Don Shula's 347.
However, Belichick surprisingly wasn't hired by an NFL team after parting ways with the Patriots at the end of the 2023 season following his 24-year tenure. He garnered little interest on the open market, with his only known interview being with the Atlanta Falcons before they hired Raheem Morris as head coach. He spent the 2024 season working as an NFL broadcaster and analyst for multiple networks.
Now, Belichick will be embarking on a new challenge as he tries his hand at coaching in college for the first time in his career. His father, Steve Belichick, was an assistant coach at Navy for 34 years and had stints as an assistant at UNC and Vanderbilt. Bill's eldest son, Stephen Belichick, spent the 2024 season as defensive coordinator at Washington following a 12-year run on the Patriots staff working under his dad.
It will certainly be interesting to see how Belichick navigates the constantly shifting landscape of college football, where NIL rules, transfer portal changes and conference realignment have created new challenges for coaches.
However, it's clear that Belichick was ready to return to coaching, and UNC gave him the opportunity to get back to doing what he does best.
Report: Bill Belichick, UNC Nearing HC Contract; Sides Working Through 'Issues'
Dec 11, 2024
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 16: NFL analyst Bill Belichick looks on during the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons on September 15, 2024 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
North Carolina is finalizing a contract that will make Bill Belichick the Tar Heels' next head coach, but there remain "issues that both sides need to work through," according to ESPN's Pete Thamel and Chris Low.
Topics yet to be resolved include a job for Belichick's son, Stephen Belichick, as well as NIL funding, staff salary and North Carolina's "reporting structure," per Thamel and Low.
Despite these issues, there is "a growing sentiment within UNC the deal is close," per CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones.
North Carolina and Belichick have "worked through financial terms the last 24 hours, in hopes a deal gets done today," according to Pat Forde and Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.
UNC would need to convene an emergency board of trustees meeting in order to approve any final contract. The meeting had not been called as of 3 p.m. ET, per Forde.
According to Thamel and Low, sources said the ball is currently "in Belichick's court."
Thamel and Low reported that North Carolina's NIL collective has "hypothetically discussed players' potential interest in anticipation of Belichick taking the job."
The Tar Heels are currently hoping to replenish a roster left thin after three starters entered the transfer portal on Monday, as well as resolve the uncertainty plaguing the future of the program since Mack Brown's firing was announced on Nov. 26.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reported on Monday that Belichick met for "five hours" with UNC officials.
Belichick then discussed his potential goals for a college football program, while emphasizing that he had not yet accepted a job, in a Monday appearance on the Pat McAfee Show.
Ollie Connolly of The Guardian reported on Tuesday that Belichick had informed UNC he wanted to see changes regarding salary and organizational structure before agreeing to the job.
Connolly had previously reported that Belichick's negotiations included "a guarantee that Stephen Belichick will be named the school's head coach in waiting." Stephen, who previously worked on the Patriots staff from 2012 to 2023, is currently serving as the defensive coordinator at the University of Washington.
Belichick has never before coached at the college level, and last coached at any level during his final campaign with the Patriots in 2023. He closed out his New England career having claimed eight Super Bowl victories, including two as defensive coordinator of the New York Giants and six as head coach of the Patriots.
Bill Belichick Rumors: NFL Legend, UNC Haven't Agreed to Contract amid 'Fluid' Talks
Dec 10, 2024
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS - DECEMBER 17: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on after his team's 27-17 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs at Gillette Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Bill Belichick is holding a lot of the power in his talks with North Carolina about the program's vacant head coaching position.
Per Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz, there is currently no contract agreement between the two sides and talks are "very fluid" right now.
Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports added that Belichick and North Carolina representatives are still talking and hope from the school a decision will come soon, with the ball said to be in Belichick's court.
Per The Athletic's Ralph D. Russo, Brendan Marks and Dianna Russini, terms of a deal are still being negotiated and something could "come together quickly," but "nothing is imminent" as the two sides "remain apart on multiple key terms."
According to sources, Bill Belichick's move to UNC is not done. There are still a few hurdles to overcome before this can be finalized. Last night, UNC made a big push, but as of now nothing official. More below: https://t.co/38jROv1jFa
Jones reported on Sunday that Belichick had a second meeting with Tar Heels officials last week in New York City, and his interest in the job is due in part to not wanting to be shut out of the hiring cycle for a second straight year.
During his weekly appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday, Belichick was unsurprisingly tight-lipped about the North Carolina job.
Thanks for laying out what it will look like IF North Carolina happens..
The Tar Heels job came open on Nov. 26 when the school announced Mack Brown would not return in 2025. Brown finished this season 6-6 and went 44-31 in 75 games over the past six seasons.
It was Brown's second stint as North Carolina's head coach. He previously worked with the program for 10 seasons from 1988 to '97 before being hired by Texas.
Belichick has 48 years of coaching experience, but he has never worked at the college level. The 72-year-old parted ways with the New England Patriots after 24 seasons in January. He was a candidate to for the Atlanta Falcons job last offseason, having two interviews with the team, but they wound up hiring Raheem Morris.
There have been rumblings that the Jacksonville Jaguars could be a landing spot for Belichick in the NFL because they might be willing to give him full control over their football operations department.
Doug Pederson's job with the Jaguars has been a topic of discussion for weeks, but they have yet to make a move with the season still ongoing.
Whatever ends up happening with Belichick, it certainly seems like he will be coaching somewhere in 2025. It's just a question of if it will be at the college level or if he holds out for an NFL job.
Report: Steve Wilks Interviews for UNC HC Opening amid Bill Belichick Rumors
Dec 9, 2024
Football: Super Bowl LVIII: San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks looks on vs Kansas City Chiefs at Allegiant Stadium.
Las Vegas, NV 2/11/2024
CREDIT: Erick W. Rasco (Photo by Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
(Set Number: X164496 TK1)
Amid rumors that legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick is in the running for North Carolina's vacant head coaching position, another coach from the NFL ranks has reportedly entered the picture.
Per On3 Sports' Pete Nakos, former San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Steve Wilks has interviewed with the Tar Heels. Wilks currently serves as a volunteer advisor for the Charlotte 49ers.
Wilks has worked in various roles for a number of NFL and collegiate programs. He was the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals for one season in 2018 and the Carolina Panthers' interim head coach in 2022 following Matt Rhule's firing.
He helped San Francisco reach the Super Bowl a season ago but was fired after just one season in that role.
Should Wilks land the head coaching job at North Carolina, it would be just the second time he's been a head coach in the collegiate ranks and the first time since 1999 when he coached Savannah State for a season.
Wilks has some stiff competition for the position with one of the greatest coaches of all time also in consideration.
Grant Hughes of 247Sports reported last week that Belichick had interviewed with North Carolina and CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones reported later in the week that he had completed a second meeting.
During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Monday, Belichick confirmed that he had met with the Tar Heels and said he's had a "couple of good conversations" with the schools.
"It seems like College Football is more like pro football right now..
I grew up around College Football & I've had a chance this year to take a longer look at it..
I've had a couple good conversations with Chancellor Roberts & we'll see how it goes"
While Belichick has never coached a college team, he noted the similarities between modern-day college football and the NFL and said his coaching style would prepare players for the professional ranks.
ESPN's Pete Thamel and Chris Low reported on Monday that Belichick and North Carolina are continuing conversations and a decision could come later this week.
Belichick, a six-time Super Bowl champion, doesn't have anything else to prove at this point, so potentially finding success at North Carolina would just add to what has already been a tremendous career.
