The real reason why Bill Belichick wants to make shock move into college football amid UNC talks
Bill Belichick is set to make a stunning move to college football after accepting he won’t get another job in the NFL anytime soon, DailyMail.com understands.
Nearly a year after ending his storied 24-year stint with the New England Patriots, Belichick gave a shocking interview with the University of North Carolina last week about their vacant head coaching position.
According to ESPNTalks between the two sides have continued this week and a final decision is expected to be made in the coming days.
Belichick broke his silence on UNC ties during an appearance on the Pat McAfee show Monday, claiming he is interested in the job because his father was a college coach who once spent three years at North Carolina.
However, a source close to the seven-time Super Bowl winner has told DailyMail.com that he is only venturing into the college ranks on a temporary basis amid fears he will be banned from the NFL for another year.
“Bill wants to coach again, and he wants to coach in the NFL again. The problem is there aren’t many teams willing to offer him a job for one reason or another,” the insider said.
Bill Belichick is about to head to college football due to a lack of opportunities in the NFL
“That’s why he’s on a temporary position at the university, as it may be another year before more teams in the NFL get the opportunity and an open window to offer Belichick a job.”
Belichick would be 90 percent ready to take the UNC job in the next week if he receives an offer of around $20 million per year.
Belichick is believed to have identified five potential NFL landing spots since parting ways with the Patriots earlier this year; the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, Cincinnati Bengals and Tennessee Titans.
In Dallas, however, he would be forced to team up with the controversial Jerry Jones, which would prove to be something of a marriage from hell.
The Giants and Bengals still have current head coaches Brian Daboll and Zac Taylor under contract for another year, while the Raiders are not expected to part ways with Antonio Davis anytime soon.
And even if Davis were fired in Las Vegas, the recent arrival of Tom Brady as co-owner – Belichick’s legendary former quarterback in New England – would make that move difficult.
As for the Titans, they didn’t sign Brian Callahan to a five-year contract until early 2024.
Belichick has never taken a job in college football before, and his first position after graduating from Wesleyan University in 1975 came with the Baltimore Colts.
Belichick, who left the Patriots in January, fears he won’t get an NFL job in the coming year
As a result, the 72-year-old is on the verge of signing a deal with UNC, which recently fell to a 6-6 record
He subsequently held minor coaching roles with the Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos and New York Giants.
In New York, he was elevated to defensive coordinator and won a Super Bowl under head coach Bill Parcells before leaving for his first head coaching gig with the Cleveland Browns.
After being fired by Cleveland in 1995, Belichick rejoined Parcells for one season with the New England Patriots.
He then moved on to the New York Jets for three seasons before returning to Foxborough in 2000 and starting perhaps the greatest dynasty in the history of professional sports by leading the Patriots to six Super Bowls.