1. Credentials
Arguably the greatest coach ever, Belichick won six Super Bowls and was named NFL Coach of the Year three times in 24 seasons with the New England Patriots.
He has also developed some of the best players in league history. Former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady went from an unheralded sixth-rounder to a three-time MVP under his tutelage. Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker Lawrence Taylor earned four first-team All-Pro nods when Belichick was New York Giants D-coordinator from 1985-90.
Hiring Belichick, a proven commodity, should give North Carolina an edge over its competition.
2. He has a vision for the program
Belichick may already have an effective recruiting pitch. On Monday’s episode of the “Pat McAfee Show,” he said his program would be a “pipeline to the NFL. “
“I feel very confident that I have contacts in the NFL to pave the way for those players that would have the ability to have the opportunity to compete in the NFL. Whether they’re good enough or not, I don’t know, but they would be ready for it. I don’t have any doubt about that,” Belichick added.
Of course, Belichick’s comments could lure elite high school prospects and players in the transfer portal, helping him bolster the roster.
3. He’s already attracting more NIL funding
Elite programs need plenty of cash to compete for national titles. According to ESPN’s Jake Trotter, Ohio State — which recently made the 12-team College Football Playoff — invested $20M in its roster in 2024.
A high-profile coach like Belichick can convince schools to splurge. On Wednesday, USA Today’s Matt Hayes tweeted North Carolina will increase its NIL package from $4M to $20M to land the coach.
The increased funding should strengthen the Tar Heels’ ability to land players and ensure that commits, such as four-star quarterback Bryce Baker, don’t switch to other schools.
4. College football and the NFL are overlapping
Recent changes to the college game could give Belichick an advantage over other college coaches.
“Belichick might be one step ahead of his peers, even though this is his first foray into college coaching,” wrote ESPN’s Heather Dinich Wednesday. “Now more than ever, college coaches need to operate their programs like the NFL — with money, deals, moving roster parts — everything Belichick made a living on at the pinnacle of the sport.”
Belichick was a de facto general manager during his time in New England, so he may understand how the new salary cap works. Per Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, schools in power conferences will have a projected $20.5M salary cap for the 2025-26 sports year, starting July 1.
5. The program may have untapped potential
North Carolina is a basketball school, but ESPN’s Andrea Adelson noted it has long been considered “a sleeping giant” in football.
In his first tenure with the program (1988-97), former HC Mack Brown guided the Tar Heels to three 10-plus-win seasons. He failed to reach this mark in his second stint (2019-24), but he did make the ACC Championship Game in 2022.
Imagine what North Carolina could do with an even more successful coach in Belichick.
