Earlier this evening, University of North Carolina head coach — and former Patriots longtime head coach — Bill Belichick took to Instagram to place to rest any rumors that he would pursue the newly opened Giants head coaching position. It was not a rumor that had made it to this site, just yet, but nonetheless, the Tar Heels’ skipper endeavored to place the thought to bed.
“I actually have great respect and genuinely look after the Recent York Giants organization and each the Mara and Tisch families,” Belichick stated in a joint post from each his personal Instagram account and the official UNC Football account. “The Recent York Giants played a crucial role in my life and in my coaching journey. It was a privilege for me to work for the Mara family and be a member of Coach (Bill) Parcells’ staff for over a decade. Nonetheless, despite circulating rumors, I actually have not and is not going to pursue any NFL head coaching vacancies.
“Since arriving in Chapel Hill, my commitment to the UNC Football program has not waivered,” he continued. “We now have tremendous support from the university, our alumni, and your entire Carolina community. My focus stays solely on continuing to enhance this team, develop players, and construct a program that make Tar Heel fans proud.” He concluded, “We’re on to Wake Forest.”
Belichick spent 12 years in Recent York, joining then-head coach Ray Perkins‘ coaching staff as a special teams coach and defensive assistant. He was promoted to special teams/linebackers coach after a yr with the team and was promoted to defensive coordinator shortly after the previous DC, Parcells, took over for Perkins as head coach. His six-year run as a coordinator arrange his first head coaching opportunity with the Browns.
After being linked to the Bears, Cowboys, Raiders, and Jets open head coaching jobs within the last coaching cycle, Belichick ultimately honored his commitment to the Tar Heels and have become a university football coach for the primary time. All of this got here a yr after Belichick was a fundamental focus for the Falcons’ open job in 2024. A drawn-out, public spectacle that resulted within the hiring of Raheem Morris left a nasty taste in Belichick’s mouth as he would remain unemployed throughout the 2024 season with an expectation to return to the NFL in 2025.
As an alternative, he made his technique to Chapel Hill, where recruiting and academics became a brand new a part of his coaching responsibilities. The Belichick-era at North Carolina got off to an inauspicious start as he lost his first three games against Power 4 opponents by a combined rating of 120-33. The team has shown signs of life since, with closer losses to Cal (21-18) and ranked Virginia (17-16) before earning Belichick his first ACC wins against Syracuse and Stanford.
With three games remaining within the Tar Heels’ season, Belichick has a possibility to construct some momentum and earn bowl eligibility in his first collegiate season. It seems that shall be crucial to the 73-year-old’s plans of turning around to football program in Chapel Hill, assuming he stays true to his assertion that he “is not going to pursue any NFL head coaching vacancies.”