NFL coaching legend Bill Belichick is heading to college football. Rumors about the impending move have been going on for a week now, and now the University of North Carolina has confirmed the hiring of the six-time Super Bowl champion by signing Belichick to a five-year, $50 million contract.
UNC Ready To Give $20 Million NIL War Chest to Bill Belichick
Belichick, 72, is taking over after Mack Brown’s dismissal following a lackluster 6-6 season. While Belichick has never coached at the collegiate level, his NFL résumé is unmatched. He boasts 333 career wins and a reputation for building dynasties — just ask the New England Patriots.
UNC’s deal with Belichick is for 5 years $50 million.
I missed here. My excellent colleagues cleaned it up.
Will do better next time. https://t.co/V2ZGp9U30R
— Ralph D. Russo (@ralphDrussoATH) December 12, 2024
The former Patriots HC will be one of the highest-paid coaches in the NCAA. However, Belichick’s confirmation wasn’t the only news that UNC faithful were happy about.
The university has increased the NIL budget to $20 million, giving the legendary coach a war chest to revamp the Tar Heels’ football program, which hasn’t seen a conference title since 1980.
The $20 million NIL investment has fans making wild predictions online. One fan humorously claimed, “He’s also signing Gronk,” referencing Belichick’s connection with former Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski.
he’s also signing Gronk
— Art (@canefilms) December 11, 2024
Another asked, “How….where is that money coming from???”
“Lol then they are national champions. This wont be true,” tweeted one more.
“That’s a larger cap than he was working with under Robert Kraft,” joked another.
“This is the best tweet I’ve read today,” commented a fan.
One fan had an informative reaction. He wrote: “Well, The new revenue sharing agreement with the NCAA allows teams to offer $22-23 million per school per year. 75% of that can be allocated to Football 15% Men’s Basketball and 15% all other sports. 75% of 22 million is $16.5 million so at $20 million they are taking some of that NIL money from the other sports.”
The eye-popping budget responds to the new NCAA landscape, where NIL deals and the transfer portal reshape college sports. UNC’s previous NIL budget was a modest $4 million, but the $16 million jump shows the university’s commitment to compete at the highest level.
The new revenue-sharing agreements with the NCAA, which allocate up to $22-23 million per school annually, have allowed programs like UNC to prioritize football in their financial strategies.
Belichick’s arrival instantly catapults UNC into the national spotlight. His $10 million annual salary ranks him sixth among the highest-paid college coaches. According to On3, he’ll trail Georgia’s Kirby Smart ($13.28 million/year) and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney ($11.13 million/year).
The Tar Heels will be aiming for a major turnaround after Belichick’s arrival, who’ll also have pressure to emulate his NFL success in the college football landscape.
Given Belichick’s stature and success history, the move can’t be termed a gamble. UNC would be in heaven if Belichick could bring his winning formula to Chapel Hill. The university could finally shed its label as an underperforming program and pave the way for becoming a powerhouse in college football.