UNC could be 'strike three' for Bill Belichick

A few teams, like the Chargers (Jim Harbaugh) and Commanders (Dan Quinn), also hired head coaches with previous NFL experience while the Raiders removed the interim tag from coach Antonio Pierce.

Others went for names with no head coaching experience, like the Panthers (Dave Canales), Seahawks (Mike Macdonald) and Titans (Brian Callahan). Collectively, coaches hired in 2024, including Jarod Mayo’s Patriots, are 42-68 with only Harbaugh, Macdonald and Quinn overseeing winning teams.

That’s telling. While all of these coaches enjoyed previous success as either a coach or coordinator, none can match Belichick’s resume. Apparently, the NFL saw something it didn’t like.

Strike three | TBD

Time will tell if an unabashed control freak like Belichick will succeed in the ever changing landscape of college football. Things like the transfer portal and NIL considerations were enough to drive Belichick’s FBS doppelganger, Nick Saban, to ESPN. 

Even Brady was surprised to hear that his old coach had signed with UNC. 

“It kind of blew me away when I heard the news,” Brady said. “I didn't think that was an opportunity he was looking at but they're getting an obviously tremendous coach."

He went on to call Belichick, “the best coach that the NFL has ever seen,” while Patriots defensive tackle Daniel Ekuale was slightly less eloquent, telling Fox Sports Henry McKenna, “No one was expecting Bill would do some (expletive) like that." 

He’ll need to do something to get the 6-6 Tar Heels back on track or his time at Chapel Hill will be nothing more than a footnote to an otherwise exceptional career.