Bill Belichick near deal with North Carolina: Legendary NFL coach would join college ranks in stunning move

North Carolina is “finalizing” a deal with legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick to lead the program, according to Inside Carolina AND CBS Sports NFL Insider Jonathan Jones. Belichick has never coached at the collegiate level in any capacity, but now prepares to take over the top opening on the market.

NC’s Board of Trustees is working on setting up an emergency meeting to approve Belichick’s contract, according to Inside Carolina and ABC11 in Chapel Hill.

Belichick’s interest was first reported by Inside Carolina, marking the first known contact he had with a college job since leaving the New England Patriots in 2023. He worked in television during the 2024 season, but ESPN reported in September that Belichick hoped to get back to coaching in 2025.

The hiring of Belichick after the Tar Heels fired coach Mack Brown after six seasons. Brown, 73, was the only coach in the FBS older than 70 years old. Belichick, 72, is only eight months younger than Brown and now prepares to embark on his first ever job coaching college football at any level.

Belichick is arguably the greatest coach in NFL history, winning six Super Bowls and clinching three AP NFL Coach of the Year awards during a legendary 24-year run with the Patriots. He holds the NFL records for most Super Bowls (6), Super Bowl appearances (9), playoff wins (19) and division championships (17) as a coach. He joins Don Shula and George Halas as the only coaches in NFL history to clear 300 wins.

There was belief around the NFL that Belichick would not seriously consider going to the collegiate ranks when his interview with UNC was first released. However, Belichick reportedly impressed UNC brass and expressed openness to dealing with the complications and realities of college football.

“He has literally been open to all of it,” a source told CBS Sports’ Jones.

Needless to say, the addition of Belichick is a game-changing moment for North Carolina football. He instantly adds an air of credibility with his legendary career. Questions now shift to how Belichick will transition into the modern college football world, including recruiting, NIL and staff building. His son, Steve Belichick, spent the 2024 season as defensive coordinator at Washington.
North Carolina posted four winning seasons in six years under Brown, including 17 wins during the 2022-23 seasons. He left as the winningest coach in program history with 113 wins.