Ex Browns Coach Named First Hire for Bill Belichick at UNC

Also on Thursday, Belichick made his first hire as former Cleveland Browns coach Freddie Kitchens was added to the staff. Kitchens is currently the Tar Heels' tight ends coach and run game coordinator, and was named interim head coach after the firing of Mack Brown on Dec. 1.

Kitchens served as an NFL coach from 2006-21, and the Browns head coach in 2019.

 "I talked to the players a little earlier and that was a great opportunity to get to know them..." the 72-year-old said in his opening monologue. "I've met with Coach Kitchens, who will be the first member of the staff that we hire. I have a ton of respect for him."

Belichick is also expected to add his son, Steve, to the staff, although he didn't mention him by name.

"There are several college coaches that are involved in bowl games and so forth, so I wouldn't interfere with the process with those schools—with the commitments to their teams, so we'll see how it goes."

The younger Belichick currently serves as defensive coordinator for the Washington Huskies, who are set to play in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31.

"I've already had a lot of people contact me," Belichick concluded on his staff. "And there will certainly be a strong presence of NFL people on the staff. I think that's a certainty."