Former North Carolina Tar Heels running back Caleb Hood. Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

UNC chaos continues with senior RB's sudden retirement

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated Oct 11, 2025 9:07 AM ET

Bill Belichick’s North Carolina Tar Heels have lost a player to retirement five games into the college football season.

Caleb Hood, a fifth-year senior who started the season as the Tar Heels’ starting running back, announced Friday that he has decided to retire from the sport. In a statement posted to social media, he thanked Belichick and his staff for the opportunity.

Caleb Hood releases statement

"After much thought, prayer and discussion with my family, I have decided to retire from football," Hood's statement read. "My journey at UNC has been special and I appreciate my time here. I am excited to start the next chapter and will always take my memories of Carolina with me.

"I want to thank Coach Belichick, Coach Kitchens and Coach Means for giving me an opportunity, as well as all my other coaches and teammates throughout the years of football for the impact they've all had on my life!"

Thank you Carolina pic.twitter.com/zUGHIkhpcv
— Caleb Hood (@calebhood05) October 10, 2025

In his own statement, Belichick praised Hood for his contributions to the program, and added that he felt “his conviction and the peace with his playing career closing.”

Hood started at running back for North Carolina this season and actually was responsible for the team’s first score of the season with an 8-yard touchdown run. His usage has declined since then, and he got just one carry in last Saturday’s home loss to Clemson.

Hood’s best season came in 2022, when he ran for 250 yards to go with 119 receiving yards. Injuries were a major issue throughout his career, though they do not appear to be the root cause of his retirement.

There is no indication that Belichick or his staff factored into Hood’s decision. However, it still does not reflect well on a program that is just 2-3 and appears to be in chaos. Mid-season retirements do happen, but they are not very common, and it certainly feeds into the narrative that the program is in a downward spiral.

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

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