The rumor mill surrounding Bill Belichick and any future coaching opportunities has been running rampant since he and the Patriots “mutually parted ways” on January 11th this year. Belichick and his messy break up with Robert Kraft and his team was one that put a little rust on the shine of the dynasty built by Belichick, Brady and Kraft. But Belichick has been dropping little Easter eggs all over the place hinting at a possible return to coaching, and not exclusively the NFL.
The report yesterday came out that Belichick interviewed for the head coaching vacancy with the North Carolina Tar Heels. North Carolina and head coach Mack Brown also “mutually agreed to part ways”, but much like the Belichick and Kraft situation, this was a firing without it being labeled that. (This also brings an end one of my favorite sports trivia questions; active head coaches to win a National Championship, no one ever remembered Mack Brown).
Inside North Carolina reported on the apparent interview between the ACC school and the legendary Super Bowl Champion head coach, but that was all there was to it. Maybe because this interview is all a big smoke-screen for Bill Belichick to send a message. So if you’re a UNC fan, I am sorry, but Belichick will not be dawning Carolina blue.
Now, I say all this in speculation. But I have been around the block a time or two. I may only be 28 years young, but you can’t bull**** a bull******* and I know it when I see it. If I had to guess, this is just another way Belichick can show NFL organizations he is ready and willing to get back into coaching. He’s so hungry to get back he’s even (not) looking at a college job! If he is doing what I think he is doing, it’s brilliant.
College coaches work a considerable amount more than NFL coaches simply because of the recruiting aspect. As a college HC, when you are not coaching, practicing, eating or sleeping, you’re recruiting. It’s non-stop. Nick Saban famously had one free week to himself during the 52-week year. And he spent it at Lake Burton in North Georgia, but always had recruits with him. It literally never stops. Bill Belichick is 72-years-old, there is no way he would ever want that kind of schedule, you know why? Because it’s not actual football! He needs the X’s and O’s to keep him happy. Also, does UNC really think Bill Belichick is going to walk into a living room and out-recruit, or even more important, out-charm guys like Dan Lanning, Kalen DeBoer and Kirby Smart? I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a Bill Belichick press conference, but he’s not exactly the life of the party as shown in this cut-up of Bills press conferences over the years:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veQQ95kbvUU
Belichick has been on the Monday Night Football Manningcast each broadcast to talk ball with Peyton and Eli, and he has dropped hints there as well. During the Week 11 game between Houston and Dallas, Belichick mentioned that the Cowboys (pre-Dak injury) had all the talent, they just needed the correct coach to pull it all together. Take that as you may. But the college gig is just so far from what Belichick should want to do. The other reason I am almost certain that a Belichick return to coaching would be to the league is he currently sits second all-time in wins amongst all head coaches, trailing Don Shula by 14 wins. I think Belichick wants that record, bad.
Lastly, Belichick loves to be petty. He used to toy with opposing coaches by purposely penalizing himself to waste time in a blowout (circa Adam Gase with the Jets). It would only make sense for him to lay his trap and wait for the Cowboys, Giants or Jets job to become available and then pounce. He wants to coach against the Patriots again, and he wants that record. I fully expect him to end up in another HC role for the 2025 season. He did the media thing, he’s dating someone that he is twice the age of, this isn’t Bill. He is dying to throw that cutoff hoodie back on and look miserable on a sideline up by 34 points once again.
What Bill needs to be successful is a quarterback with experience in the league, and a stable defense with structure. This is why I believe he was interviewed twice by Atlanta but not hired, he doesn’t fit their long term goals with Michael Penix Jr. whom they drafted 8th overall in the 2024 draft. Bill will be on a sideline again, but it won’t be on Saturdays.
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