In 2009, Mack Brown led his Texas Longhorns to the BCS National Championship Game against Alabama, coached by Nick Saban, who had already won a national title with LSU but had yet to capture one with Alabama. Fast forward 15 years, and Brown has been dismissed after his second tenure at North Carolina, while Saban has retired from Alabama, leaving his former NFL colleague, Bill Belichick, to take over the Tar Heels’ program at the age of 72. This turn of events marks a significant shift in the college football landscape.
North Carolina, after a 6-6 season in 2024, will now undergo its rebuild under Belichick, who retired after the 2023 NFL season. Despite nearly five decades of NFL coaching experience, Belichick has never been involved in major college football. This raises the question: why did Belichick leave a potential return to the NFL for a program dealing with the complexities of NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals and year-round recruiting?
While many other coaches have left the professional ranks for similar reasons, including Saban and Urban Meyer, Belichick’s decision to coach in college may stem from a deeper, strategic reasoning, according to some Razorbacks insiders. Fernando Carmona, an offensive lineman for Arkansas, recently discussed his take on the situation during a podcast. He recalled a conversation with an Arkansas trainer who proposed an intriguing theory about Belichick’s decision to take the job.
The theory suggests that Belichick’s primary motivation is to set up a successful succession plan for his son, Steve Belichick, currently the defensive coordinator at Washington. The idea is that Bill Belichick could coach at North Carolina for a few years, building a winning program and stabilizing the team, only to pass the reins over to Steve when the time is right. Carmona believes that this makes perfect sense because, at this stage of his career, Bill has nothing left to prove, and his decision to coach in college could serve as a stepping stone for his son’s future career. He points to similar father-son coaching transitions in other sports and smaller programs but notes that this would be rare at a high-profile school like North Carolina.
While Steve Belichick is still early in his coaching career, the idea of him eventually succeeding his father at North Carolina could help solidify the program’s future. Steve’s first season as Washington’s defensive coordinator saw the Huskies struggle, finishing with a mediocre 6-6 record after a promising 2023 campaign. But this theory, though intriguing, still has much to prove, as the success of such a transition would depend on a variety of factors, including the ability to build a strong team culture and performance on the field.
One significant question surrounding Bill Belichick’s move to college football is whether he can be successful without his decades of experience working in the NFL. While his expertise in player evaluation, drafting, and managing contracts could translate to success in college football, the dynamics of the college game—especially with the addition of NIL and the transfer portal—are vastly different. Despite these challenges, Belichick’s success in managing NFL player contracts, coupled with his ability to spot undervalued talent, may give him an edge when it comes to navigating the complex landscape of college football.
The real test for Belichick will come in how well he can manage a college roster and motivate players who are significantly younger and less experienced than the seasoned professionals he is used to working with in the NFL. The NFL game is played by adults with years of experience, but college players are often still developing their skills, which poses a unique challenge for a coach like Belichick, who has spent most of his career working with professionals. His ability to relate to and inspire younger players could determine his success at North Carolina.
Having his son, Steve, by his side could help with the transition to college coaching. If Steve becomes the defensive coordinator at North Carolina, as expected, his familiarity with the NFL coaching style and the Belichick way could prove invaluable. Additionally, reports indicate that the Tar Heels are working to build a substantial NIL fund to attract top-tier talent, which could make it easier for Belichick to recruit the caliber of players necessary to compete at a high level.
North Carolina plays in the competitive Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), which includes formidable teams like Clemson, Duke, Florida State, and Miami. The competition is fierce, and Belichick will need to contend with these established programs as well as emerging teams like SMU, which had a successful debut season in the ACC. The Tar Heels will face a tough schedule in 2025, opening against TCU and also playing UCF, both of which are strong teams. How Belichick handles these early challenges could be a key indicator of his ability to succeed in college football.
Despite the challenges ahead, Belichick’s legendary status in the NFL cannot be ignored. If he can adapt his coaching philosophy and strategies to the unique demands of college football, he could help North Carolina compete for championships. His extensive experience in building teams, evaluating talent, and managing players could allow him to make the necessary adjustments to succeed. However, the question of whether he can motivate a roster of young college players and navigate the complexities of the modern college football landscape remains open. If he can do so, Belichick may prove that success in the NFL can indeed translate to college football, even in a completely different environment.
