Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch; Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Patriots Legend Joins Pat McAfee on ESPN for Bill Belichick’s UNC Coaching Debut

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Parker Johnson | Last updated Jul 24, 2025 5:44 PM ET

The presence of six-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick has already brought plenty of added attention to the North Carolina Tar Heels football team.

As his college football coaching debut approaches, ESPN is fanning the flames by turning North Carolina's opening game against TCU into a special production — one that includes an icon of Belichick's NFL dynasty with the New England Patriots.

On Thursday, ESPN announced a special one-hour "College Football Countdown"studio show that will air live from Chapel Hill at 7 p.m. ET on Sept. 1 ahead of the Tar Heels' showdown with the Horned Frogs.

ESPN "College GameDay" headliner Pat McAfee will be joined by Tedy Bruschi, who won three Super Bowls while playing for Belichick on the Patriots from 2000-2008.

McAfee's "GameDay" partner Nick Saban is also on the cast for the special event at Kenan Stadium. McAfee will provide a blend of entertainment value alongside Saban's unique experience as someone who has coached in both college and the NFL.

Bruschi can sprinkle the added insight of someone who played under Belichick for years, not to mention his proven television chops at ESPN. The legendary linebacker joined ESPN as a NFL analyst in August 2009, one week after announcing his retirement from pro football.

Sept. 1, ESPN will present a special college football Week 1 pregame show live from @UNC on Labor Day

Airing from the sidelines of Kenan Stadium ahead of Bill Belichick's CFB coaching debut as @UNCFootball hosts @TCUFootball

7p ET | ESPN

Details: https://t.co/NzokbgJCqK pic.twitter.com/CheeXUmL27
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) July 24, 2025

Though most of his television work at ESPN focused on the NFL, Bruschi is also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He was inducted in 2013 in recognition of his career at University of Arizona, where he was a two-time consensus All-American in 1994 and 1995.

The special Labor Day edition of "College Football Countdown" is not ESPN's only high-profile pregame show that weekend. Two days prior, the network will celebrate Lee Corso's final show on "College GameDay" ahead of the marquee matchup of Week 1 between defending champion Ohio State and Texas on Sept. 30 at Ohio Stadium.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: