What Is Bill Belichick’s Buyout at UNC? All About $50M+ Contract

And it’s not just Bill feeling the heat. Connolly added, “Members of Belichick’s coaching staff have already spoken to other schools that are expected to be in CFB Playoff about taking on roles during the postseason. From one coach: “the rats are leaving the ship”. Some staffers believe a change will come within two weeks.” The Titanic is taking on water, and the lifeboats are filling fast. Some within the program think a change could come within two weeks.

When UNC landed Bill Belichick, they wrote a $50 million, five-year check with three years guaranteed. Fire him before Dec. 31, 2027 and they’ll owe him nearly $30 million. If he walks before June 1, he owes them $10 million, which drops to $1 million after 2025. Not exactly a clean breakup, but it’s doable.

Connolly added, “Using recruit violations to knockdown a coaches buyout has become a standard practice. If Belichick cannot find a landing spot to trigger his own buyout, he’s excepted to accept a greatly reduced, compromised rate.” 

The wild part is that the chatter around Chapel Hill isn’t just about losses. It’s about violations, dysfunction, and disconnection. One anonymous UNC defensive assistant even said, “What we’ve done to these kids is f—ed up.” So yeah, the Belichick era in Chapel Hill might be one of the fastest rises and falls in recent college football memory. But hold up, there’s another twist coming.

Will Bill Belichick leave in 2025?

Despite the storm clouds, insiders say Bill Belichick isn’t going anywhere just yet. According to Pete Nakos, a midseason firing “remains unlikely,” though the situation is “fluid.” So, UNC’s not ready to eat $30 million before Halloween. However, the assistants are another story. Freddie Kitchens, his offensive coordinator, is reportedly on the hottest of seats, while CB coach Armond Hawkins has already been suspended for allegedly giving sideline passes to a player’s family, an NCAA violation.

The Tar Heels have been outscored 72–19 in their last two games. For Bill Belichick, that’s historically bad. As Pat Welter of WRAL reported, the Tar Heels’ program now resembles a locker room civil war. “A divided locker room, a disorganized coaching staff and a failure to communicate.” That’s how UNC is currently described as. 

If things don’t change soon, Bill Belichick won’t just go down as the greatest NFL coach of all time. He might also be remembered as college football’s quickest flameout.