UNC hires Bill Belichick as legendary NFL coach seals return to football after year out
Bill Belichick has sealed a sensational return to football after the University of North Carolina completed a deal with the seven-time Super Bowl champions.
The 72-year-old has been out of work since calling time on his legendary 24-year reign as head coach of the New England Patriots at the start of the year.
But after a shock interview with the school last week, Belichick has now agreed to a deal to become the next UNC head coach. And Adam Schefter confirmed Belichick’s return to coaching on Wednesday night.
It marks his first-ever college coaching job after nearly a half-century in the NFL, where he won six Super Bowls as head coach for the Patriots.
Belichick, who is dating 24-year-old Jordon Hudson, told the Pat McAfee Show on Monday that he had conversations with university leadership and was interested in being head coach of the Tar Heels.
The Tar Heels retained an outside consulting firm to identify coaching candidates to replace Mack Brown, whom they fired at the end of the regular season. North Carolina went 6-6, including 3-5 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Bill Belichick has sealed a sensational return to football after the University of North Carolina
The 72-year-old had been out of work since he called time on his legendary reign in New England
The Tar Heels retained an outside consulting firm to identify candidates to replace Mack Brown
Two other prominent names initially in the mix for North Carolina’s head coaching position have been dropped.
Jon Sumrall has reportedly told Tulane that he plans to remain as head coach of the Green Wave. Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith, a 2005 North Carolina graduate, has informed the school that he plans to remain with the Steelers.
North Carolina had also reportedly spoken with Army head coach Jeff Monken, whose team was a perfect 8-0 in their first season in the American Athletic Conference and finished 11-1 overall.
After 24 seasons with the Patriots and six Super Bowl titles in nine appearances, Belichick was replaced by owner Robert Kraft in New England before the 2024 season.
He was a finalist to become head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, but owner Arthur Blank chose Raheem Morris.
Belichick needs 14 wins to break the all-time record for NFL coaches held by Don Shula.
But according to reports earlier this week, he was surprised not to hear from the NFL teams with existing vacancies.