Former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, a six-time Super Bowl champion, revealed on Monday that he has had “a couple of good conversations” with North Carolina Chancellor Lee Roberts regarding the Tar Heels’ head-coaching position.
During an appearance on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show,” Belichick shared that since leaving the Patriots, he has taken a “longer look” at college football over the past 11 months, as opposed to his usual focus during the spring draft preparation.
“It’s been a good year for me. I’ve learned a lot,” Belichick stated. “I’ve had the opportunity to talk to Chancellor Roberts, and we’ve had a couple of good conversations. We’ll see how it goes.”
When pressed for more details, Belichick maintained his characteristic brevity, joking about his reputation for terse responses during press conferences. “Yeah, let’s just leave it at that, Pat,” he said with a smile. “I don’t want to give out too much information. I want to get my press conference aura back.”
Inside Carolina first reported Belichick’s interview with UNC last week, a claim later confirmed by The Associated Press. The Tar Heels are in search of a replacement for Mack Brown, who was dismissed as head coach on November 26 after leading the program for a second stint. Brown, the school’s all-time winningest coach and a College Football Hall of Famer, coached his final game on November 30 against rival N.C. State.
Transitioning from the 73-year-old Brown to the 72-year-old Belichick would mark a significant shift for UNC, as Belichick has never coached at the college level but enjoyed remarkable success in the NFL, primarily with quarterback Tom Brady during his 24-year tenure with the Patriots.
Since his departure from New England, Belichick has been linked to various NFL opportunities, including a potential role with the Atlanta Falcons earlier this year. While he did not elaborate on his discussions with UNC, he did draw parallels between managing an NFL team and leading a college program, particularly in light of recent changes allowing college athletes to profit from endorsements.
“If I were in a college program, it would be a pipeline to the NFL for players with the ability to play at that level,” Belichick explained. “It would be a professional program: training, nutrition, schemes, coaching, and techniques that would transfer to the NFL. It would be an NFL program at a college level.”
Belichick also has a personal connection to UNC; his late father, Steve Belichick, served as an assistant coach for the Tar Heels from 1953 to 1955.
Related topics
- How Many Minutes Is a Rugby Game
- How Many Countries Are in the Rugby World Cup
- What Percent of Rugby Players Get Injured
