Chapel Hill, North Carolina – This year, all eyes are on Bill Belichick, the six-time Super Bowl champion, as he takes the reins of the University of North Carolina football program. Hired last December, Belichick’s presence has stirred curiosity about whether he can adapt his legendary coaching prowess to college football and how long he will stay at UNC.
Since beginning his stint, Belichick has remained a topic of conversation, especially after his buyout dropped to $1 million on June 1. This change has led to speculation that he might be open to returning to the NFL if an opportunity arises. As the new college football season approaches, this speculation continues to heat up. Ron Rivera, the general manager for California and a former NFL coach, weighed in on the matter during an interview. He expressed respect for Belichick, suggesting a successful tenure at UNC could lead to interest from NFL teams in the future.
Rivera noted, “Having him in college football is a very good thing. If he turns the program around instantly, I would not be surprised to see an NFL team reach out to him.” The Tar Heels struggled last season, finishing with a 6-7 record, but they have been active in improving their roster through the transfer portal, landing the ninth-best class according to 247Sports. They welcomed 41 new players, including quarterback Gio Lopez from South Alabama, who had impressive stats with 2,559 passing yards, 18 touchdowns, and a strong completion rate last season.
What qualifies as success for UNC in 2025 is still uncertain, especially considering the significant changes to the roster. However, if the Tar Heels can compete effectively in the ACC, it is not unfathomable to consider that Belichick could find himself back in the NFL spotlight. The lingering question remains: would the 73-year-old coach be interested in leaving the college game for another shot at the professional level?
