Former NFL GM Mike Tannenbaum believes Bill Belichick would be 'great' in college with NIL, transfer portal

North Carolina is in the process of finding its next head football coach after announcing on Nov. 26 that Mack Brown would not return in 2025. Many names have been floated around as potential candidates, but the latest update was perhaps the most interesting of all. Bill Belichick has interviewed for the job, Grant Hughes of Inside Carolina reported Thursday.

Would Belichick, 72, be a good fit in today’s college football landscape? That is the question. Former New York Jets general manager and current ESPN analyst Mike Tannenbaum believes he would, making the argument on Friday’s “Get Up.”

“I actually think he would be great in college in this day and age of free agency, transfer portal, NIL, and here’s why: The players think he will make them better. They’ll play more and they can earn more,” Tannenbaum said. “He will make them extremely prepared, and I think that’s what players will gravitate to.”

On the surface, the idea of Belichick, who has no prior coaching experience at the collegiate level, seems like an unrealistic option. On the other hand, Belichick is an eight-time Super Bowl champion, winning six Lombardi trophies during his 23-year tenure as head coach for the New England Patriots. Belichick clearly knows a thing or two about coaching, though dealing with the transfer portal and NIL can be challenging for any coach.

Report: Bill Belichick has ‘high, genuine interest’ in UNC job after head coach interview

Despite his inexperience in college football, Belichick has “high, genuine interest” in the North Carolina job after interviewing for its head coach opening, The News & Observer’s Andrew Carter reported. Carter added Belichick “blew them away” during his interview with Tar Heels officials.

After parting ways with the Patriots last year, Belichick took a major step into the media world this season. He appears on the “ManningCast” during the first half and has a weekly spot on “The Pat McAfee Show.” He also does work with Underdog Fantasy and appears on “Inside The NFL” on The CW.

But Belichick is a coach first and will surely look for opportunities to get back on a sideline somewhere, whether that’s in the NFL or college football. Tannebaum’s ESPN colleague, Paul Finebaum, said he can see Belichick getting the Tar Heels over the hump — something Brown failed to do in his second stop in Chapel Hill.

“I could [see it],” Finebaum said. “Chapel Hill is a very unique situation. The expectations aren’t the same as Georgia, Texas, and Alabama. They have a great infrastructure.

“If they’re patient, I think he could turn that place around. Mack Brown almost got over the hump, just couldn’t quite. Bill Belichick could easily do that.”