Bill Belichick might be calling the shots at the University of North Carolina now, but that doesn’t mean his NFL days are over.
According to insider Tom Pelissero, the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach wasn’t just sitting back waiting for the right college gig — he took the Tar Heels job because he didn’t want to be unemployed for another season.
Tom Pelissero Reveals Bill Belichick’s Real Reason for Taking UNC Job
Belichick was announced as the Tar Heels head coach in December, and since then, speculations about his unstable future in Chapel Hill have dominated the headlines.
Speaking about the same on “98.5 The Sports Hub,” Pelissero said, “I know for a fact that there were multiple other owners that he talked to at various points. Bill took the North Carolina job because he wanted to coach; He didn’t want to be out for another year.”
As @TomPelissero stated on today's @FelgerAndMazz, Bill Belichick was in contact with multiple owners during this hiring cycle.@IAmJamesStewart @TonyMassarotti @bigjimmurray @mikefelger @MaggioreKevin @kfabrizio985 pic.twitter.com/atGBVmEqEn
— 98.5 The Sports Hub (@985TheSportsHub) February 5, 2025
Belichick was very adamant about commitment to UNC during his first press conference there. “I didn’t come here to leave. I’ve always wanted to coach in college football. It just never really worked out. Had some good years in the NFL, so that was OK.”
However, rumors about a return to the pros haven’t faded. Pelissero also revealed that Raiders part-owner Tom Brady personally reached out to his former coach about a possible role in Las Vegas. “Tom called him… Was like, ‘What would it take if we were going to hire you to Vegas?’” Pelissero shared.
Adding to the drama was Belichick’s delayed contract signing. Though, he officially inked his deal with the school a couple of weeks ago.
Update: Bill Belichick signed his full contract with UNC on Wednesday. Here's a link to the full contract provided by the school with screenshots of the buyout language, conditions surrounding potential future NFL interest and a redacted signature https://t.co/NON3oBHvc3 pic.twitter.com/e6wSkUPu00
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) January 23, 2025
His buyout clause is another red flag — if he leaves before June 1, he owes the school $10 million, but after that, it drops to just $1 million. That kind of flexibility makes it easy to wonder if he’s keeping his options open for an NFL return in 2025.
While Belichick has been grinding on the recruiting trail, locking down 21 transfers for the Tar Heels, the ACC’s financial struggles could also push him back to the pros. Conferences like the Big Ten and SEC are throwing around massive media rights deals, but UNC and its fellow ACC programs are out in the cold.
If a top-tier NFL job opens up, it wouldn’t be shocking to see Belichick trade in his Tar Heel blue for another shot at Super Bowl glory. For now, Belichick insists he’s focused on leading UNC into their season opener against TCU on Sept. 1.