School's in: North Carolina hires Belichick as head coach
Bill Belichick is making a stunning move to college football.
North Carolina announced Wednesday it hired the NFL and New England Patriots legend as its new head coach on a five-year contract.
"This is an exciting day for Carolina football and our university," UNC chancellor Lee H. Roberts said. "Carolina is committed to excellence and to creating an opportunity to succeed in everything we do, from the classroom to the field of competition. I know after speaking with coach Belichick that he shares that commitment. His legacy speaks for itself, and we look forward to working together on the next chapter of Carolina football."
The 72-year-old parted ways with the Patriots at the end of the 2023 season and didn't coach in 2024. He was a finalist for the Atlanta Falcons' head coaching job, but the team eventually hired Raheem Morris instead.
The sense among NFL owners was that Belichick had generated almost no NFL interest for the 2025 cycle, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
Belichick will replace Mack Brown on the Tar Heels, who moved on from their longtime head coach Nov. 26 after posting a 6-6 record this season. North Carolina ranked 36th in the nation with 32.3 points per game in 2024 but allowed 28.2 points, only the 91st-best mark in the country.
Belichick interviewed for the job last week. The two sides reportedly made progress on an agreement Wednesday before ironing out a few issues, including the school's NIL funding, staff resources, Belichick's salary, and the role that his son, Steve Belichick, will have on the team. Steve is currently the defensive coordinator at Washington.
North Carolina plans to increase its NIL package for football from $4 million to $20 million, sources told Matt Hayes of USA Today.
"I am excited for the opportunity at UNC-Chapel Hill," Belichick said in a statement Wednesday. "I grew up around college football with my dad and treasured those times. I have always wanted to coach in college and now I look forward to building the football program in Chapel Hill."
Belichick has been lining up potential staff members to join him at UNC for days and is exploring transfer portal additions, according to ESPN's Chris Low.
Former Cleveland Browns general manager Michael Lombardi will leave VSiN to join Belichick as North Carolina's football GM, he announced Wednesday. Lombardi has been the host of "The Lombardi Line" and the "GM Shuffle" podcasts since 2018. The 65-year-old previously worked with Belichick as an assistant for the Patriots from 2014-16.
Arguably the greatest coach in NFL history, Belichick spent 24 seasons in New England and became the second-winningest head coach of all time. He won a record six Super Bowl titles alongside legendary quarterback Tom Brady.
Belichick has never coached at the college level. His father was an assistant at North Carolina between 1953-55.