Seeing Bill Belichick at UNC was unthinkable until this week when the eight-time Super Bowl-winning coach decided to make his college debut. The entire sports fraternity was in shock, especially some former Patriots, who couldn’t be happier about Belichick getting back to what he loves after losing his longtime job at New England.
Julian Edelman Shows Love for Bill Belichick
Former Patriot and three-time Super Bowl champ Edelman was excited about Belichick’s latest decision. He posted a warm note on Instagram and affirmed UNC that a new era is in the making.
“At his core, Coach Belichick is a teacher, a ball knower, and someone who doesn’t accept less than 100%. And it showed in the way we presented ourselves on Sunday,” Edelman said.
“I’m excited to watch him take the UNC program to that same level, and to watch his players reap the benefits of his genius in their college careers and beyond. Congrats Coach.”
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Similarly, legendary quarterback Tom Brady expressed his appreciation when the news got public. “Congrats Coach. The Tar Heel way is about to become a thing,” Brady wrote in his IG story.
The Brady-Belichick era was by far the greatest period in the history of the Patriots. The duo combined for 249 wins and just 75 losses.
The six Super Bowl wins, 17 division titles, and 13 AFC championships are testimony to what Belichick magic could really mean, and UNC players couldn’t be more lucky than to have someone like him at the helm.
Belichick Is UNC’s Trump Card in Changing Landscape of College Football
After Nick Saban’s retirement, the 72-year-old coach is expected to become the next big thing in college athletics. Just like how Saban revolutionized Bama, Belichick could be a trailblazer to put the ACC on the map with UNC leading from the front.
UNC athletic director Bubba Cunningham says to have a similar vision after replacing longtime coach Mack Brown.
“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,” Cunningham said, per USA Today.
Belichick will start his tenure in the 2025 season, although he has already begun with recruiting pitches and strategizing offseason plans. His college debut is expected to be a successful one, as UNC’s moderate 2025 schedule will give him an edge to get accustomed to the college arena.