Report: Bill Belichick contract at North Carolina still unsigned, sparking speculation over buyout

Amid the backdrop of dozens of coaches around the country interviewing for various open NFL jobs, North Carolina coach Bill Belichick is currently working without a signed contract, apparently.

CBS Sports reports that there is no signed and fully executed contract yet between Belichick and North Carolina. The significance? That apparently leaves open a question as to whether Belichick could wriggle out of some terms of the deal should an NFL team come calling. Writes CBS Sports:

“Industry sources say that could lead to a legal gray area about how much, if any, of a buyout there would be if Belichick left for the pros.”

As written in Belichick’s term sheet proposal, the former New England Patriots head coach would owe a buyout of $10 million if he left the program before June 1, 2025. That figure drops down to just $1 million after June 1. Of course, that’s if the buyout clause is enforceable.

Enforcing it could get more difficult, potentially, without a signed and executed contract. However, in recent days, Bill Belichick’s general manager has pushed back hard against the idea that he might not be fully committed to the Tar Heels. Certainly, recruiting is made a bit more difficult if there’s a door cracked for the NFL, something North Carolina is currently contending with.

Pro Football Talk wrote a piece outlining concerns that Bill Belichick’s slow pace in assembling his staff has left some nerves in Chapel Hill about “the possibility that Belichick will activate his $10 million buyout and bolt for the NFL.” Belichick’s general manager at North Carolina, Michael Lombardi, pushed back.

“We are not slow, just being diligent, hired three people on Sunday, not one is nervous other than this erronous report,” Lombardi wrote on Twitter. “A completly fabracated story. thank you.”

North Carolina has already hired some staff members. Freddie Kitchens, a holdover from Mack Brown‘s staff, has been named the offensive coordinator. Steve Belichick, Bill Belichick’s son, has been named the defensive coordinator. Matt Lombardi is an offensive assistant, while Chris Jones is a defensive assistant. And Moses Cabrera, a Bill Belichick associate from his days in New England, is the head strength and conditioning coach.

In addition, a report emerged Wednesday that Bill Belichick is set to add long-time SEC assistant Will Friend as offensive line coach. In any case, it certainly seems that until the ink is dry on a contract there will remain questions about whether Belichick could entertain a sudden jump back to the NFL ranks.