Report: NFL executive believes Bill Belichick leveraging UNC, college opportunities for NFL prospects
On Thursday, there was chatter about former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick interviewing with the North Carolina Tar Heels. But NFL insider Jordan Schultz shared some more details on the matter with his reporting on Twitter. In his report, Schultz wrote that “most are skeptical that he would seriously consider coaching in the college game, even with the landscape shifting toward an NFL style model. One NFL executive told me today that he believes Belichick is being strategic, using this to push NFL teams to act faster and to make it widely known that he plans to return in 2025.”
More on Bill Belichick and his interest in UNC
Legendary NFL coach Bill 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 UNC officials.
News of Belichick’s reported interview with North Carolina send a shockwave around both the NFL and college football worlds. Over the course of his nearly 50-year coaching career, he has never coached at the collegiate level, working exclusively in the pros. However, he’s out of the game this year, and Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde and Albert Breer also reported Belichick wants to coach in 2025 and has “legitimate” interest in the college game.
North Carolina is in the early stages of its search to replace Mack Brown after the two sides parted ways following the 2023 season. Another former NFL coach – Freddie Kitchens – is the Tar Heels’ interim coach as UNC works to find Brown’s replacement.
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Belichick’s credentials speak for themselves. He has eight Super Bowl rings, including six with the New England Patriots alongside Tom Brady, and is considered arguably the greatest coach in NFL history. During his career as a head coach with the Patriots and Cleveland Browns, Belichick has a 302-165 record.
After parting ways with the Patriots last year, Bill Belichick took a major step into the media world this season. He appears on the ManningCast during the first half when games air on ESPN2 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 it appears Bill Belichick has a return to coaching in his future plans, whether it be in the NFL or at the college football level. His father was a longtime coach at Navy and served as a backfield coach at North Carolina in the 1950s. His son, Steve Belichick, is also wrapping up his first season as the defensive coordinator at Washington under Jedd Fisch.
On3’s Nick Schultz also contributed to this article.