Bill Belichick plans to go back to school.
The 72-year-old legendary coach made a shocking move to the college ranks, finalizing a deal to join UNC as head coach nearly a year after leaving the Patriots after 24 years and six Super Bowl championships. The school made the announcement Wednesday. .
According to North Carolina, Belichick’s contract is for five years.
“I am excited about the opportunity at UNC-Chapel Hill,” Belichick said in a statement. “I grew up around college football with my dad and cherished that time. I’ve always wanted to be a coach in college, and now I’m looking forward to building the football program in Chapel Hill. looking forward to it.”
The UNC Board of Governors met Wednesday and approved Belichick’s contract, according to ABC11.
According to ESPN, Belichick is eyeing talent to add to his staff and is exploring potential acquisitions through the transfer portal, which opened on Monday.
Belichick, who played at Wesleyan University, has spent his entire 49-year coaching career in the NFL, although his father, Steve, was an assistant at UNC from 1953 to 1955.
After breaking up with New England, Belichick interviewed with the Falcons during his final coaching stint, but Atlanta hired Raheem Morris.
Belichick, who ultimately failed to land an NFL coaching job, has taken on numerous media jobs ahead of the 2024 season, including appearances on “The Pat McAfee Show,” ESPN’s Manning Cast, and “Inside the NFL.” Secured.
A potential lack of interest in the next cycle may have led Belichick to Chapel Hill, where he has 333 wins over a 29-year career, second all-time behind Don Shula’s 347 between Cleveland and New England. , where he would take over in recent seasons. Mack Brown, 73, was fired.
Known as the school of basketball, the Tar Heels football program has only had one double-digit winning season in the past 27 years and hasn’t won a conference title since 1980.
On Monday’s episode of “The Pat McAfee Show,” Belichick revealed what kind of program he wants to run.
“If I was in a college program, a college program would be a pipeline to the NFL for players who are capable of playing in the NFL,” he said. “It will be a specialized program for transitioning to the NFL, including training, nutrition, planning, coaching and technique.
“It’s going to be an NFL program, but it’s not going to be at the NFL level.”
Belichick was recently spotted on the red carpet at the Museum Gala held at the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan on Thursday night with his 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson.
He reportedly met with UNC officials in Manhattan on the same day.
He has received a lot of support from the NFL community since rumors of his affair with UNC started circulating.
“‘He’s got a lot of things he can do. Obviously he’s great and he’s even showing some character,’ Tom Brady, the former Patriots QB and Belichick’s longtime running mate, said on FOX’s NFL broadcasts on Sunday. he said. “But going out to recruit and interacting with university students…”
That left fellow former Patriots stars Julian Edelman and Rob Gronkowski wondering how a famously gruff coach would handle luring teenagers to Chapel Hill.
Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy, who Belichick was considered to replace after the season, issued a warning to opposing NCAA teams.
“Wow, that’s great…let me tell you one thing, they’re going to be someone to consider,” he told reporters about Belichick’s move. “I have a lot of respect for Bill and the work he’s always done. He’s always been very difficult to compete against. … Congratulations. I’m happy for him.”
