UNC Football

On Monday, Bill Belichick confirmed during an appearance on ESPN's The Pat McAfee Show that he has had a "couple of good conversations" with North Carolina chancellor Lee Roberts amid reports that he has interviewed for the school's head coaching vacancy.

But obstacles between the sides remain.

According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, "Sources believe some of the biggest hurdles facing a UNC-Belichick union are salary and NIL money commitments. Can Carolina make a respectable salary offer to the coach while also locking in the millions needed to compete at the requisite level?"

The former New England Patriots head coach did not comment specifically about any reports of interviewing with North Carolina, but he did offer a preview of how he would approach running a college team.

"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 told McAfee. "It would be a professional program—training, nutrition, scheme, coaching and techniques that would transfer to the NFL."

Belichick, 72, most prominently spent 24 seasons as the head coach of the Patriots, leading the team to seven Super Bowl titles alongside quarterback Tom Brady. But his coaching career also included stops with the Cleveland Browns as the head coach between 1991-95 and stints with the New York Giants as an assistant and defensive coordinator (1979-90) and New York Jets as the defensive coordinator (1997-99), among other stops.

In total, he's gone 302-165 as an NFL head coach. His entire coaching career to this point, however, has come at the professional level. The college game would be a brand new beast for Belichick, and at a time when the transfer portal and NIL deals have changed the landscape of recruiting and program-building.

There's no doubt that Belichick would offer a level of name recognition and pedigree for North Carolina that would aid the recruiting process. He also would likely delegate much of the school's recruiting duties to his staff. But going from athletes at the top of their profession to younger, developing kids would undoubtedly be an adjustment for a coach like Belichick, who was famous for running a machine-like operation with the Patriots.

There is also the question of whether Belichick would prefer to wait out the NFL season and see what organizations end up with coaching vacancies. Last year, he only interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons, but more interview opportunities should arise after the conclusion of the regular season. That, in turn, could leave the Tar Heels in a holding pattern in their own coaching search, though waiting out Belichick might be a gamble worth taking for a program with the resources to compete at the top level but a consistent failure to do so.

Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick confirmed he has had a "couple of good conversations" with North Carolina about their coaching vacancy.

Belichick said Monday on The Pat McAfee Show he has done some due diligence to prepare for what would be his first college coaching job. He refrained from offering any specifics about a recent meeting with UNC chancellor Lee H. Roberts.

The six-time Super Bowl champion effectively offered a sales pitch centered around turning the Tar Heels into an NFL-centric program.

Belichick closed by saying, "We'll see," in reference to the job.

ESPN's Pete Thamel and Chris Low reported Monday that the legendary head coach was maintaining a dialogue with North Carolina. He and the school could reach a final decision later this week.

Belichick's success in the NFL speaks for itself. He helped build a dynasty in New England and is the greatest coach of the modern era.

But working in the pros isn't correlative to coaching in college, even with college football's evolution toward a more pro model with increased player movement and new methods of athlete compensation.

In 2017, Arizona State announced a new "restructured ASU football model" with retired NFL coach Herm Edwards leading the team. The Sun Devils wanted to run things more like an NFL team in a bid to set themselves apart.

The experiment was a disaster. Edwards' 26-20 record over five seasons doesn't do justice to the terrible state in which he left the team.

Maybe ASU was simply ahead of its time and identified the wrong head coach, but Belichick's interview on Monday sounds an awful lot like the vision Edwards and then-athletic director Ray Anderson tried to lay out in Tempe, Arizona.

There's also the fact that other, much more successful schools can already make a compelling pitch to elite high school recruits and players in the transfer portal as a finishing ground for the pros.

Belichick's idea for North Carolina sounds great in theory, but how long would it take the Tar Heels to start winning recruiting battles against the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Oregon and Ohio State?

But who knows what will and won't work as we approach a totally new era for college football. Maybe North Carolina will discover a formula that puts the school ahead of the curve by leaning all the way into an NFL culture and organizational structure.

North Carolina is maintaining a dialogue with former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick about their vacancy, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.

Thamel reported a resolution one way or the other is expected this week..

When it comes to the Tar Heels' search, he added that Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall and Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith "were two names most prominently linked to the job when it opened." Both removed themselves from contention.

Belichick is a six-time Super Bowl champion and one of the greatest coaches in NFL history. He was an unexpected candidate for UNC, though, because he hasn't worked in the college ranks before. The 72-year-old's famously surly demeanor would also be an odd fit in today's game.

Bill's son Stephen at least has some college experience after joining Jedd Fisch's staff at Washington this season as the defensive coordinator. Thamel reported Stephen would potentially follow his dad to Chapel Hill were Bill to get the job.

The MMQB's Albert Breer offered more context behind why Belichick is warming to the idea of coaching in college.

"Belichick and folks around him have really studied the current state of the college game, and what they've found has, well, a lot in common with the NFL," Breer wrote. "If NIL is the salary cap, and the transfer portal is free agency, then you can see where Belichick might have confidence that what some folks would see as adjustment for him being a potential advantage."

Belichick is also encouraged by the changes in the NCAA rules that allow for non-coaching staffers to recruit, per Breer. Because of that, he "wouldn't need to do home visits to land 18-year-olds," with the NFL insider citing Colorado head coach Deion Sanders as an example.

It's a comparison that may not work, though, because Sanders is such a singular star with limitless charisma. As a Hall of Fame cornerback, he has also reached the kind of heights professionally prospective recruits want to attain.

Belichick simply can't match that.

Traditional recruiting hasn't even been a strength for Colorado during the Coach Prime era, either. The Buffs were 95th nationally in 247Sports' composite team rankings for 2024 and have moved up to 37th for 2025, which is only good for fourth in the Big 12.

Belichick and North Carolina would've have advanced this far if he weren't a serious candidate. But there's still going to be a level of shock if he's the final choice.

Legendary former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick's interest in joining North Carolina hasn't been taken seriously by NFL executives, according to Mike Sando of The Athletic.

"Some NFL executives also laughed at the idea," Sando reported on Monday.

Belichick reportedly interviewed with the Tar Heels regarding their head coaching vacancy as a potential replacement for Mack Brown, who was fired on Nov. 26.

Representatives from the university met with the eight-time Super Bowl winner again on Thursday, per CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones.

While Belichick and the Patriots mutually agreed to part ways following the team's 4-13 finish in 2023, his continued interest in coaching has been apparent. He interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons regarding the team's head coaching vacancy before Raheem Morris was eventually hired.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported on Saturday that "people around the NFL" are "skeptical" about Belichick's interest in a college job, believing that he just wants to be back in the league.

The 72-year-old has been rumored to be interested in patrolling the sidelines for the Jacksonville Jaguars, but the team still has Doug Pederson as head coach. Jones previously reported that the Jaguars are expected to have a vacancy at the end of the year, as they currently sit at 3-10 despite a win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

Belichick may choose to stand pat and see which NFL jobs are available before making his decision regarding the Tar Heels' position.

Amid rumors that legendary head coach Bill Belichick is in the running for the vacant head coaching position at North Carolina, Tom Brady weighed in on the situation.

Brady said that while Belichick was an outstanding NFL coach, the college ranks might be too much for him.

"No," Brady said (3:40 mark). "I think there's a lot of things he can do and obviously he's tremendous and even showing his personality, but getting out there on the recruiting trail and getting all these college kids..."

Earlier this week, Grant Hughes of 247Sports reported that Belichick interviewed with North Carolina after the program fired head coach Mack Brown in November. CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones reported on Friday that Belichick had a second meeting with the Tar Heels and that the former New England Patriots coach has "literally been open to all of it."

What's driving Belichick's desire to get back into the coaching game? ESPN Chicago's Peggy Kusinski reported that he "wants to prove his coaching legacy at the college level without Tom Brady's shadow over him."

While there have been plenty of reports noting that Belichick has a serious interest in the job, some insiders aren't convinced he would take it. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reported on SportsCenter on Saturday that "some people around the NFL are a little bit skeptical," just as Brady is.

While it may take a while to determine how serious of a candidate Belichick is, it would be quite a sight to see him enter the collegiate ranks. Belichick, who has been in the coaching world since the 1970s, has never served as a coach in any capacity for a college team.

North Carolina is hoping to find the coach that can take them to the promised land, and perhaps a six-time Super Bowl-winning coach could be the answer.

Bill Belichick is arguably the greatest coach in NFL history, but his next stop might be in the college game.

ESPN Chicago's Peggy Kusinski reported Sunday that Belichick "wants to prove his coaching legacy at the college level without Tom Brady's shadow over him."

With that as the backdrop, she noted there are ongoing contract negotiations between the legendary coach and North Carolina after the ACC program fired Mack Brown.

The idea of Belichick coaching at North Carolina seemed almost unfathomable not that long ago.

Yet there has been no shortage of reporting on the possibility. Inside Carolina (h/t Grant Hughes of 247Sports) first reported the two sides met, while Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported there was s second meeting.

According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, a source familiar with Belichick's thinking "expects" he would accept the job if the Tar Heels offered.

And NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport noted the coach is "fairly serious" about a jump to college:

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler appeared on Saturday's SportCenter and said some are "skeptical" of Belichick's interest in a college job, while others believe there is "some genuine interest." Fowler noted Belichick's son Steve, who is the defensive coordinator for the Washington Huskies, could join him at North Carolina.

This would be quite the twist as Belichick continues to build his legacy.

Kusinski specifically highlighted his desire to do so away from "Brady's shadow," which is notable since the coach and quarterback combination were the central pieces to arguably the greatest dynasty in NFL history. They won six Super Bowls together on the New England Patriots, although Brady added a seventh ring after he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Winning in college, especially at a program that is not historically dominant like North Carolina, would be quite the addition to Belichick's resume and give him something to point to that happened outside of his time with Brady.

Still, he is also just 14 wins behind Don Shula's all-time NFL record of 347 regular season and playoff victories.

Winning with the Tar Heels wouldn't help him chase that record and potentially secure his spot as the greatest NFL coach in history.

Bill Belichick's rumored candidacy as Mack Brown's potential replacement in Chapel Hill is continuing to generate buzz.

The former New England Patriots head coach reportedly interviewed for the North Carolina football head coaching position, and Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reported that Belichick met with UNC again on Thursday.

"But furthering the intrigue around Belichick and the Carolina job, representatives from the university again met with Belichick on Thursday in Manhattan, according to multiple sources," Jones wrote.

The 2024 NFL season is the first one since 1999 that Belichick was not the Patriots head coach. He has been involved with NFL coaching since 1975.

His time with the Patriots was wildly successful as he won six Super Bowls and led the team to an overall record of 266-121. He's 14 wins shy of tying Don Shula's all-time mark.

Ever since the 2024 coaching cycle came and went, it's been clear Belichick would be one of the key pieces of the 2025 carousel given his proximity to Shula on the all-time wins list.

As a result, a detour to college has never seemed like his most likely route.

North Carolina went 6-6 in 2024 and fired Brown, who has been a legend in the collegiate ranks himself.

At this point, though, it remains unclear if Belichick is truly intent on testing his mettle in the collegiate ranks and succeeding Brown or if he's simply doing his due diligence before more NFL jobs open up next month.

On Thursday, North Carolina reportedly interviewed Bill Belichick for its head-coaching vacancy after firing Mack Brown, per Grant Hughes of 247Sports.

Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network confirmed that report, with Rapoport noting that Belichick is "not ruling out college" despite his successful NFL coaching career. Per that report, the college game is something Belichick is "fairly serious" about and he's done "a lot of research, has talked to a lot of people in college football, a lot of his friends, about what college football is like."

In September, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Belichick "would like to return to coaching in 2025, but only in the right situations with good jobs," adding that he had offers ahead of the 2024 season to serve as the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams but turned them down.

He also interviewed for the Atlanta Falcons head-coaching position last offseason before the Falcons hired Raheem Morris.

Pelissero noted Thursday that "when you look at the landscape of the jobs that are available right now across the NFL, I would fairly tell you that if [Belichick] is going to be coaching somewhere in the league in 2025, it's a job that is not yet open."

Thus far this season, the New York Jets fired Robert Saleh, the New Orleans Saints fired Dennis Allen and the Chicago Bears fired Matt Eberflus. Other openings will inevitably come open, with head coaches like Doug Pederson in Jacksonville, Mike McCarthy in Dallas, Brian Daboll in New York and Antonio Pierce in Las Vegas, among others, on the hot seat.

As for North Carolina, hiring Belichick would be about the most high-profile move the Tar Heels could make, though there remain plenty of questions about how Belichick would fare in the college game from a recruiting and developmental standpoint.

There's no doubting Belichick's pedigree from a football knowledge and tactical standpoint. But dealing with far younger players, the realities of the NIL age and the greater talent disparities in the college game are entirely different beasts. Is that a world the 72-year-old Belichick wants to learn for the first time?

Perhaps. But it still feels more likely that if the right NFL opportunity comes along, it would ultimately be his preference.

Well, nobody can accuse North Carolina of thinking small if the latest rumor surrounding its football program is true.

According to a Thursday report from Inside Carolina (h/t Grant Hughes of 247Sports), legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick interviewed with the Tar Heels regarding their head coaching vacancy. The position is open after the ACC program fired Mack Brown last month.

The report noted North Carolina also spoke with Tulane head coach Jon Sumrall and Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport seemingly confirmed the report:

Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports added that "most are skeptical that [Belichick] would seriously consider coaching in the college game, even with the landscape shifting toward an NFL style model."

An NFL executive told Schultz "that he believes Belichick is being strategic, using this to push NFL teams to act faster and to make it widely known that he plans to return in 2025."

According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the 72-year-old is "open to both the NFL and college football" and isn't "ruling anything out."

While it wouldn't be a shock to see Belichick back in coaching in 2025, it would be surprising to see him take the North Carolina job.

After all, his most notable experience has all come in the NFL ranks as a defensive coordinator for the New York Giants and New York Jets in addition to his time as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots.

Belichick's run as Patriots head coach is among the most successful in sports history, as he reached nine Super Bowls and won the Lombardi Trophy six times during his 24 seasons. He went 266-121 in that span and is widely considered one of the best coaches to ever be on the sidelines in the NFL.

While he will be 73 years old in April and had a losing record in three of his final four seasons with New England, he will surely generate plenty of interest from the professional level when more coaching vacancies present themselves.

Going to the college ranks in today's era of football would also mean juggling several things he is not accustomed to from his previous coaching stops.

In addition to the actual games, college coaches have to work around the clock on recruiting, searching the transfer portal, managing their roster in the hope of avoiding potential transfer departures and navigating the name, image and likeness era.

College coaches are paid quite handsomely for their work, but it would be a lot for Belichick to adjust to at this stage of his career.

North Carolina would also be something of a head-turning choice, as it is a solid program but nowhere near the blue-blood status it enjoys on the basketball court. It has won double-digit games just once since the 1997 season and went 6-6 in 2024.

Belichick is one of the greatest coaches in sports history, but this would be a rather unusual partnership at this stage.

North Carolina run game coordinator and tight ends coach Freddie Kitchens will be the Tar Heels' interim head coach for their bowl game, via Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger.

On Tuesday, North Carolina announced that head coach Mack Brown would not return for the 2025 season.

Kitchens has NFL head coaching experience, operating in the role for the Cleveland Browns in 2019. He also served as the New York Giants' offensive coordinator in 2021 and later joined the Tar Heels' staff in Feb. 2023.

"Freddie Kitchens is an incredibly talented coach who is respected by our student-athletes and staff,'' North Carolina athletic director Bubba Cunningham said as part of the announcement. "He is dedicated to doing all he can to help lead our program through this transition, and we appreciate his willingness to take on this role."

Brown was still allowed to coach North Carolina's regular-season finale, a 35-30 loss to NC State on Saturday.

He wasn't interested in sticking around for a bowl game, though.

"Great time for me to get out, this isn't the game I signed up for," Brown said after the loss, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). "I'm leaving it better than I found it."

Brown finished his second stint at Chapel Hill with a record of 44-33 since he took over in 2019 after previously coaching the Tar Heels from 1988-97. North Carolina fell to 6-6 in 2024 with Saturday's loss to the Wolfpack, though.

Kitchens led the Browns to a 6-10 record in his lone year as head coach, operating as Cleveland's offensive coordinator during the season prior. He spent 16 years in various coaching roles at the NFL level, making a Super Bowl XLIII appearance as part of the Arizona Cardinals' staff.

While the Tar Heels' exact bowl game and opponent are still unknown, Kitchens will now be patrolling the sidelines during the contest.