Legendary NFL head coach Bill Belichick made national headlines in early December when he reportedly signed a five-year, $50 million contract with the North Carolina Tar Heels. Belichick has appeared on campus at UNC and has started to help the team sign recruits. However, a report from NFL insider Jonathan Jones indicated that Belichick’s contract still remains unsigned.
NFL Fans React to Report That Bill Belichick’s North Carolina Contract Is Still Unsigned
With Belichick’s contract still unsigned, there’s a possibility he could leverage his position to get better terms. Notably, he could force UNC to adjust the terms of his buyout if an NFL team wanted to sign him.
The current terms of the contract stipulate that an NFL team would need to pay a $10 million buyout if they wanted to hire Belichick before June 1, 2025. After that date, the buyout is reduced to $1 million.
Fans reacted to the possibility that Belichick could leave the Tar Heels and sign with an NFL team like the Dallas Cowboys.
“He gonna take the cowboys job,” one fan wrote.
He gonna take the cowboys job
— KingsOFTheB1GTen (@scoduck4life) January 16, 2025
“Jerry Jones get on the phone and get that man to the Dallas Cowboys ASAP if u could Deion Sanders and Kellen Moore can wait this is Bill Belichick,” one fan commented.
“Bill Belichick about to get the Dallas Cowboys area code call.. Jerry Jones at it again His pilot about To go,” one fan added.
Bill Belichick about to get the Dallas Cowboys area code call.. Jerry Jones at it again His pilot about To go pic.twitter.com/U5haJ5mHeU
— Slowpoke Rodriguez (Chubby Boxer) (@ChubbyTrevno) January 16, 2025
Other fans commented that they doubted that he would leave North Carolina.
“He took the job knowing NFL opportunity was right around the corner. Doesn’t seem like a guy who makes a decision and then changes his mind in 2 months. I think we can stop with all the ‘Bill is going back to the NFL stuff,'” one fan wrote.
He took the job knowing NFL opportunity was right around the corner. Doesn’t seem like a guy who makes a decision and then changes his mind in 2 months.
I think we can stop with all the “Bill is going back to the NFL stuff”
— The Sideline Podcast (@sidelineffpod) January 16, 2025
“That seems a little bit strange. So technically, he could leave right now and have no penalty? WOW,” one fan commented.
“So how is he acting in any capacity without an ;officially contract for the school? He is actively recruiting and UNC just gonna let him free lance?” another added.
So how is he acting in any capacity without an “officially contract for the school? He is actively recruiting and UNC just gonna let him free lance?
— 2024 OmaVols Baseball National Champs (@MarineVol1371) January 16, 2025
While this report indicates that Belichick’s contract is unsigned, there has been no indication from him that he has any other intention than to coach the Tar Heels.
There is a strong possibility that it is just a technicality that the contract remains unsigned as the lawyers sort out its finer details. Until proven otherwise, fans should assume Belichick will be the head coach at UNC next season.