NFL teams on red alert as it emerges Bill Belichick has still not signed his UNC contract
Bill Belichick reportedly hasn’t signed his UNC contract yet, sparking new speculation that he could leave his role in college football and return to the NFL before coaching a game.
Belichick stunned the football world by taking on the role of head coach at the University of North Carolina late last year instead of waiting for a return to the NFL.
But it has now emerged that the 72-year-old has only signed a term sheet CBSwhich is not a legally binding contract. It means that if Belichick were to leave the team for an NFL franchise, all parties would be in a legal gray area.
CBS Sports says UNC has even confirmed that the term sheet is the only document Belichick has signed so far.
Since Belichick was unveiled as head coach, he has looked every bit the part of a dedicated college coach. In addition to publicly dismissing claims that he could leave at the first sign of interest in the NFL, he has traveled the country recruiting high school prospects and building his coaching staff.
But there is still talk of NFL teams trying their luck. Tom Brady has reportedly grilled Belichick on what would have been a potentially stunning reunion in Las Vegas to coach the Raiders.
Bill Belichick apparently still hasn’t officially signed his contract as UNC head coach
And now the vacancy with the Dallas Cowboys is also available after Jerry Jones – with whom Belichick is said to have a positive relationship – fired head coach Mike McCarthy this week.
“I didn’t come here to leave,” Belichick said during his introductory news conference in Chapel Hill.
But even if his contract had been signed by now, there would have been a $10 million break clause for NFL teams to hire Belichick before June 1. After that, it would drop to just $1 million.
Belichick left the New England Patriots in January 2024 after 24 seasons and six Super Bowl titles.
The Patriots replaced him with Jerod Mayo, who coached on Belichick’s staff but fired Mayo earlier in January after just one season and hired Mike Vrabel in his place.
But the Cowboys, Raiders, New York Jets, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints and Jacksonville Jaguars all have head coaching positions available now.
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