North Carolina announces date for first Bill Belichick open practice

The anticipation is beginning to grow for Bill Belichick’s first season in Chapel Hill. It should be an exciting 2025 for North Carolina, and they’re giving their fans a chance to bask in the glory, announcing the Tar Heels’ first open practice of their new era will take place on April 12.

Kenan Stadium will be the site of the event, and it features an open practice starting at 6:30 p.m. ET, along with an autograph session and free admission. There’s more details to come, but it’s easy to see why this is something diehard North Carolina fans, and even the casual ones, would love to attend.

Your chance to watch Coach Belichick’s practice with the Heels!

Save the date. More details to come. #GoHeels pic.twitter.com/XZ4GKeR80z

— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) March 5, 2025

All told, the first open practice of the Belichick era should provide some light as to what’s expected of North Carolina in 2025. Many believe the multiple time Super Bowl champion will take to the college game like a fish to water, but there’s certain to be some trial and error throughout his first season on the job, especially after a year removed from the sidelines.

Originally, there was slated to be a bit more pomp and circumstance around the Tar Heels, as it was reported that they would be featured in the offseason version of HBO’s Hard Knocks, a year after the New York Giants took center stage. However, the deal fell through, per CBS Sports‘ Jonathan Jones, and it unfortunately won’t be happening.

“NFL Films had discussions with Coach Belichick and UNC about appearing on Hard Knocks this offseason but couldn’t reach an agreement,” a spokesperson for NFL Media said, via CBS.

According to Jones, creative control was at the center of the sides being unable to reach an agreement on Hard Knocks. UNC was the pick for the second season of the show after no NFL team elected to participate for the next edition, causing HBO to turn to college football.

“Sources told CBS Sports there is still a desire within the UNC football program to do some sort of all-access, behind-the-scenes series with some media group,” Jones wrote. “But one source questioned why UNC wouldn’t want the prestige and reach of HBO and NFL Films, the latter of which has worked with Belichick for decades.

“Sources at UNC had spotted NFL Films employees in the facility in recent weeks, and there was excitement across the football program and university about the exposure Belichick’s team would receive from the series.”

Even if they won’t be featured on Hard Knocks, Bill Belichick and the North Carolina Tar Heels will experience plenty of media coverage in 2025. Their first open practice will be a can’t-miss event when April rolls around, that’s for sure.

— On3’s Nick Kosko contributed to this article.