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NFL insider on Bill Belichick to UNC speculation: 'This is real'

Matt Connollyby:Matt Connolly•12/07/24•

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Bill Belichick
Bob Breidenbach | USA TODAY NETWORK

NFL legend Bill Belichick has reportedly interviewed for the North Carolina head coaching job. It seems that things could be heating up between the two sides.

NFL insider Jeremy Fowler appeared on SportsCenter Saturday morning and was asked about the Bill Belichick to UNC rumors. Fowler shared that there is real interest from both sides.

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“It is a surprise, but some people I’ve talked to last night and this morning believe that this is real, that at least there’s some genuine interest in talking and seeing where this goes, exploring the option,” Fowler said.

He added that Bill Belichick simply wants to get back into coaching, whether it be in college or the NFL. The 72-year-old is sitting out from coaching this year and he doesn’t want to do that again.

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“As one source told me, Bill Belichick simply wants to coach. You take the politics out of it, personnel control, the NFL, all of that stuff. He just wants to be back on the sideline and in a film room chopping it up, teaching players, coaching, what he does best,” Fowler said. “And so really now he has to weigh his options.”

Bill Belichick won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and is regarded as one of the greatest coaches of all time. With that said, he has never coached at the college level. He would likely hire a staff at North Carolina with college experience that could include his son Stephen Belichick, who is currently the defensive coordinator at Washington.

“I’m told the University of Washington is on high alert here because Belichick’s son Stephen is the defensive coordinator there for the Huskies,” Fowler said. “He could go with his dad to UNC if this all does come together. So a lot of moving parts.”

There is still a chance that an NFL franchise comes after Belichick in the coming days and weeks. But for now, Belichick coaching at North Carolina seems like a real possibility.

“Belichick has to decide, does he want to jump on the college train now or does he want to wait out these NFL teams,” Fowler said. “Teams that have an opening, the Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, they can talk to Belichick right now, but nothing has heated up yet.”