According to various sources, Belichick has spoken with North Carolina officials about the school’s open head coaching position. Since leaving the New England Patriots at the conclusion of 2023, the former head coach has not coached in the 2024 season.
However, Andrew Carter of The News & Observer suggests that you should keep your expectations for Belichick’s candidacy in check.
North Carolina dismissed coach Mack Brown at the end of the season, and he will not coach the Tar Heels’ bowl game. Brown was on his second tenure at the school.
Belichick, 72, is around eight months younger than Brown. He has never coached college football, although his father, Steve, was a long-time college coach who spent over 30 years at Navy. Belichick’s son, Steve, is in his first season as defensive coordinator at Washington, while Bill is close buddies with former Alabama coach Nick Saban. If there was anything Belichick needed to know about the present situation of college football, we’re guessing Saban wouldn’t hesitate to share it.
Throughout Belichick’s 24-year tenure with the Patriots, the team won six Super Bowls. The team’s last championship came at the end of the 2018 season, and New England missed the playoffs in each of Belichick’s final two seasons with the team. Belichick led New England to a 266-121 record throughout his tenure.
Since leaving the Patriots, Belichick has expressed interest in continuing his coaching career, and he has made regular appearances on ESPN’s “Manningcast” during Monday Night Football games this season.
Belichick’s contacts with UNC indicate that North Carolina is looking for a wide range of candidates to replace Brown. Arthur Smith, former Atlanta Falcons head coach and current Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator, announced over the weekend that he would not be a contender for the position. Smith, a North Carolina alum, is in his debut season with the Steelers.
Brown was hired in 2019, following a five-year hiatus from coaching after leaving Texas at the end of the 2013 season. North Carolina won at least six games in each of his six seasons at the institution, although the squad finished just 6-6 in 2024 after going 9-5 in 2022. Brown was North Carolina’s head coach from 1988 to 1997 before accepting the Texas position.
