Bill Belichick’s Shocking Move to Coach North Carolina Tar Heels
Bill Belichick’s decision to take the North Carolina Tar Heels job has left many in the professional and college football world in shock. The 72-year-old, one of the most respected former NFL head coaches, has never coached at the collegiate level. He was an assistant with the Baltimore Colts in 1975 before winning several Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and New York Giants.
Former player Tedy Bruschi questioned the move, saying he can’t believe Belichick won’t be coaching in the NFL next year. “What are we doing here? I mean, with Bill Belichick going to coach North Carolina. I mean, college football — there’s only one bowl game I want to see Bill Belichick coaching and that’s the Super Bowl, OK?”
Despite his surprise, Belichick is set to replace Mack Brown as head coach and is expected to bring immediate relevance and competitiveness to the Tar Heels. “He is that good. Now, he’s not going to be on the level of six championships New England Patriots or anything like that, but your team would be competent from the get-go; and then it’s on your players,” Bruschi said.
Former wide receiver Julian Edelman offered a sunnier take, saying, “It’s the most surprising thing in the history of anything to me that the greatest NFL football coach is not going to be in the NFL…. A, projecting players: I was a quarterback in college, played receiver [in the NFL]. Tom Brady was a sixth-round draft pick, became the greatest quarterback of all time. Rob Gronkowski was a second-round pick, became the greatest tight end of all time. He knows how to project players.”
Belichick’s family connection to the University of North Carolina also played a role in his decision, as his father coached there. The Tar Heels are set to play in the Fenway Bowl on December 21, with Freddie Kitchens serving as the interim coach for the game.