Bill Belichick has sealed a sensational return to football after University of North Carolina finalized a deal with the seven-time Super Bowl champion.
The 72-year-old had been out of work since calling time on his legendary 24-year reign as New England Patriots head coach at the start of the year.
Yet after holding a shock interview with the school last week, Belichick has now agreed a five-year deal to become the next UNC head coach. Earlier reports had said he had signed terms for three years that would be worth $30million.
‘I am excited for the opportunity at UNC-Chapel Hill,’ Belichick said, before referencing how his father Steven was a coach on the team in the 1950s. ‘I grew up around college football with my dad and treasured those times. I have always wanted to coach in college and now I look forward to building the football program in Chapel Hill.’
It marks his first-ever college coaching job after close to half a century in the NFL, where he won six Super Bowls as a head coach for the Patriots.
Belichick, who is dating 24-year-old Jordon Hudson, told The Pat McAfee Show on Monday he’s had conversations with the university leadership and was interested in become head coach of the Tar Heels.
Bill Belichick has sealed a sensational return to football after University of North Carolina
The 72-year-old had been out of work since calling time on his legendary reign in New England
The Tar Heels retained an outside advisory firm to identify candidates to replace Mack Brown
And the Belichick’s son, Stephen, works for Washington as defensive coordinator and is a contender to join his father’s staff – like he did at the New England Patriots.
ESPN said after initial the news broke that Belichick has been lining up staff members to join his team, as well as considering his options in the portal. It was later confirmed on that Michael Lombardi will be his GM in Chapel Hill.
Lombardi, whose role as GM was confirmed just hours after Belichick himself, said: ‘I’m excited to join Coach Belichick at North Carolina. I’m excited to return to helping build a winning program.’
The Tar Heels retained an outside advisory 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.
Two other prominent names that were initially in the mix for the North Carolina head coaching job have dropped off.
Jon Sumrall has reportedly told Tulane that he plans to stay as head coach of the Green Wave. Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, a 2005 graduate of North Carolina, has informed the school he intends to stay with the Steelers.
North Carolina had reportedly also spoken to 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.
Belichick’s son Stephen worked with him at the Patriots and could follow him to Chapel Hill
After 24 seasons with the Patriots and six Super Bowl titles in nine appearances, Belichick was replaced 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 opted for Raheem Morris.
Belichick needs 14 wins to break the all-time wins 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.