Bill Belichick hired: Live updates from UNC football news conference for NFL legend

Admin December 12, 2024

Bill Belichick is becoming a college football coach for the first time. It’s really happening.

North Carolina officially pulled off the stunning move on Wednesday night when it announced Belichick’s hiring to replace Mack Brown as the next Tar Heels‘ next football coach. This means the coach with a record six Super Bowls, who sits just 14 wins away from breaking Don Shula’s NFL record for all-time wins, will be roaming the sidelines in the ACC next fall, trying to guide North Carolina through a new era of college football that increasingly operates like the professional level Belichick is coming from.

“We know that college athletics is changing, and those changes require new and innovative thinking. Bill Belichick is a football legend, and hiring him to lead our program represents a new approach that will ensure Carolina football can evolve, compete and win – today and in the future,” UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham said in a statement.

The football world is buzzing over this decision and the reaction has been polarizing, with NFL and college football analysts weighing in on how and if Belichick, 72, can successfully transition from the professional ranks to college. There are also still plenty of details to iron out: Belichick’s contract must be formally approved by the Board of Trustees, there’s an introductory news conference Thursday afternoon, he needs to put together a staff, and he must maneuver through the recruiting trail and transfer portal for the first time.

We’ll be tracking what’s happening between Belichick and North Carolina throughout Thursday. Check back here for the latest updates on Belichick’s move to college football.

The partnership between Bill Belichick and North Carolina football cleared one more hurdle Thursday morning when the university’s Board of Trustees approved Belichick’s contract at an emergency meeting attended by multiple reporters in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. It was considered a formality after Wednesday’s announcement, but approval was nonetheless needed to move forward.

The details of the deal beyond the $50 million over five seasons North Carolina will reportedly pay Belichick are especially intriguing after the two sides spent the past couple days negotiating over NIL money and staffing.

North Carolina announced that it will hold an introductory news conference for Belichick on Thursday at 2 p.m. ET. It will be broadcast live on the ACC Network.

Belichick spoke in general terms about running a college football program during an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Monday, but he has otherwise not talked extensively about his interest and plans for the North Carolina job.

“I grew up around college football with my Dad and treasured those times,” Belichick said in a statement Wednesday. “I have always wanted to coach in college and now I look forward to building the football program in Chapel Hill.”

Michael Lombardi joining Bill Belichick as UNC GM

A familiar face will be reuniting with Belichick with North Carolina football. Michael Lombardi, a former NFL general manager who worked with Belichick in New England, announced he is leaving his job as a media analyst at VSiN to become North Carolina’s general manager.

Bill Belichick contract

Financial details were not revealed by the school, but UNC said in its press release Wednesday night that Belichick had agreed to a five-year deal “pending approval by the University’s Board of Trustees and Board of Governors.”

Per The Athletic, he’s agreed to a $50 million deal.

How many Super Bowls does Bill Belichick have?

Bill Belichick won an NFL-record six Super Bowls over 24 seasons as the New England Patriots coach, including two different stretches during which he won the Super Bowl three times in four years. Belichick made nine Super Bowl appearances overall with the Patriots.

Super Bowl 36 (Feb. 3, 2002): Beat St. Louis Rams, 20-17
Super Bowl 38 (Feb. 1, 2004): Beat Carolina Panthers, 32-29
Super Bowl 39 (Feb. 6, 2005): Beat Philadelphia Eagles, 24-21
Super Bowl 42 (Feb. 3, 2008): Lost to New York Giants, 17-14
Super Bowl 46 (Feb. 5, 2012): Lost to New York Giants, 21-17
Super Bowl 49 (Feb. 1, 2015): Beat Seattle Seahawks, 28-24
Super Bowl 51 (Feb. 5, 2017): Beat Atlanta Falcons, 34-28
Super Bowl 52 (Feb. 4, 2018): Lost to Philadelphia Eagles, 41-33
Super Bowl 53 (Feb. 3, 2019): Beat Los Angeles Rams, 13-3

Bill Belichick coaching record

Belichick began his head coaching career with the Cleveland Browns in 1991 after rising up the ranks as the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants under former coach Bill Parcells. Belichick was fired by the Browns in 1995 and rejoined Parcells as an assistant coach with the New England Patriots and New York Jets. He was briefly named the Jets’ head coach ahead of the 2000 season but resigned from the job at what was supposed to be his introductory news conference and soon became the Patriots’ head coach through the 2023 season.

Here’s a look at Belichick’s record as an NFL coach:

29 seasons (24 with Patriots, 5 with Browns)
333-178 career record (including playoffs)
9 Super Bowl appearances (all with Patriots)
6 Super Bowl championships
19 playoff appearances

Bill Belichick age

Bill Belichick is 72 years old. He will turn 73 on April 16 and will be the oldest Football Bowl Subdivision head coach in the country when the 2025 college football season begins. Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz is the second-oldest coach in the country at 69 years old.

Where did Bill Belichick go to college?

Belichick graduated in 1973 from Wesleyan College in Middletown, Connecticut, where he played tight end and offensive line for the football team. He also lettered in squash and lacrosse as a college athlete. He was part of the inaugural class inducted into the Wesleyan College athletics hall of fame.