Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Nick Saban reacts to Bill Bilichick taking North Carolina head coaching job

Originally posted on Touchdown Alabama Magazine
By Stephen M. Smith | Last updated Dec 13, 2024 4:03 PM ET

Bill Belichick is in college football coaching an Atlantic Coast Conference school.

After having much success in the National Football League — including eight Super Bowl Championships — Belichick wants the challenging of developing young athletes in the collegiate game. The 72-year-old now takes on the grind of recruiting, NIL (name, image, and likeness), and the NCAA transfer portal. Nick Saban, a personal friend and mentee of Belichick, is regarded as arguably the greatest college football head coach of all-time. Saban and Belichick worked together with the Cleveland Browns.

Saban was on the Pat McAfee Show and reacted to the new of Belichick coaching at North Carolina.

“I’m happy for Bill Belichick and I think he wanted a new challenge..

This is gonna be a great challenge for him and there’s a lot of athletic tradition at North Carolina..

I think he’ll be able to develop players”

Coach Saban #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/pFFWSo6eLX

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 13, 2024

“I’m happy for Bill Belichick and I think he wanted a new challenge,” Saban said. “This is going to be great challenge for him and North Carolina is a great academic institution as well as plenty of athletic tradition. Bill is a great coach. I think he’ll be able to develop players.”

Saban stated the lone thing that would be a challenge for Belichick in college is recruiting.

“The difference in college is how do you bring guys to the team,” Saban said. “It is different drafting guys than what it is recruiting. Recruiting is like a full-time, relationship building, 365 days a year in terms of not only evaluating the players you want, but also creating the relationships worth it to get them. Everyone says it’s like the NFL because they are making money now, but it still takes you being able to sell them the you are going to develop them. I think Bill will be able to do that.”

Belichick’s projected contract numbers are five years, $50 million for the Tar Heels.

This article first appeared on Touchdown Alabama Magazine and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: