Legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick has reportedly agreed in principle to become the next head coach at North Carolina just weeks after the school fired Mack Brown.
Belichick, who was without a job in the NFL for the first time in decades this season, laid out his plans to make the school a football powerhouse, according to Ollie Connolly of The Guardian.
Last week, Connolly reported there was a mutual interest between UNC’s administration and the six-time Super Bowl-winning former coach of the New England Patriots. Tuesday afternoon, Connolly reported on X that a deal was being worked out between the two parties:
Update: Belichick has agreed to become the next UNC coach. Belichick handed the school a 400 page “organizational bible” with structure, payment plans, staffing choices etc. decisions on whether to commit with UNC. He is expected to know their decision within 24 hours.
Belichick’s bible would require historic levels of investment from the school. Includes salary minimums position by position and a willingness to hire two staffs: a coaching staff run by Belichick; a recruitment staff run by a sitting college GM — who would require a buyout.
Belichick has a college and pro version of his updated manual and has shared it with other schools and NFL teams. But he drafted a new one specific to UNC that touched on every aspect of the program and school. Will need sign off from AD, chancellor, trustees and boosters.
Per Connolly, Belichick will not negotiate regarding his demands if he were to become the school’s next head coach. Additionally, per the reporter, some of UNC’s trustees had offered “pushback” on the demands laid out by the 72-year-old.
Neither the school nor Belichick have commented on the reporting.
Tuesday’s report came a day after Belichick told The Pat McAfee Show he could transform a college program into somewhat of a semi-professional team that could make it a pipeline for future NFL talent.
“IF I was in a College program it would be a pipeline to the NFL for the players that had the ability to play in the NFL..
It would be a professional program at the College level..
I don’t have any doubt that the players would be ready for the NFL” ~ Bill Belichick #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/JyMDtzs2yR
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 9, 2024
“Let me put this in capital letters,” he said. “IF I was in a college program, the college program would be a pipeline to the NFL for the players that had the ability to play in the NFL. It would be a professional program. Training, nutrition, scheme, coaching, techniques that would transfer to the NFL. It would be an NFL program at a college level and an education that would get the players ready for their career after football.”