Belichick’s Move to UNC Called Risky by ESPN’s Paul Finebaum

ESPN personality Paul Finebaum delivered a blunt assessment of Bill Belichick’s decision to join North Carolina, warning that the legendary coach may be risking his legacy in front of a national audience.

During an appearance on Get Up, Finebaum acknowledged Belichick’s incredible NFL resume, which includes six Super Bowl wins and decades of dominance, but argued that history often remembers you by how you finish.

“There’s some [risk] because his legacy has already been diminished,” Finebaum said. “We all know he’s won six Super Bowls. It’s the greatest NFL career of all time. But we often remember what you do last. I’m afraid for Bill Belichick. It’s going to happen again.”

Drawing on baseball legend Willie Mays, Finebaum pointed out that even the best careers can be defined by a single mistake: “Willie Mays was my favorite player as a kid, but I remember him dropping a fly ball in the World Series.” That image now looms for Belichick at UNC, Finebaum said, unless his debut season goes differently than expected.

Finebaum doesn’t hold back on expectations. He described the Tar Heels’ roster as underwhelming, predicting they could win seven or maybe eight games. Definite promise, but not a must-see national attraction. And he even questioned Belichick’s motives in taking the job: “He’s trying to impress his girlfriend. He’s trying to make some money, and I don’t think it’s going to work.”

Not everyone agrees. Former NFL GM Mike Tannenbaum sees opportunity in the upside, highlighting UNC’s schedule and transfer activity as potential catalysts for surprise success, even in Belichick’s first year.

The pressure is real. Belichick arrives in Chapel Hill with significant resources, but the expectations remain low. One season could redefine how fans and historians remember his long legacy, and Finebaum believes that risk is his most pressing challenge.