Mike Lombardi, the general manager of the North Carolina Tar Heels football team, made waves in December when he joined legendary NFL head coach Bill Belichick in Chapel Hill. However, only a month later, there are rumors that NFL teams are interested in luring Belichick back to the NFL.
Mike Lombardi Talks About Why Tom Brady Is Reaching Out to Bill Belichick
Part of the reason there are rumors that Belichick is returning to the NFL is a report that legendary NFL quarterback Tom Brady, who played under Belichick for nearly two decades with the New England Patriots, reached out to Belichick.
Brady recently purchased a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders, giving him significant influence over the hiring process.
On Thursday, Lombardi appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” to discuss the rumors that Belichick could return to the NFL.
McAfee asked Lombardi how committed he and Belichick are to UNC.
“Completely committed. I know for coach Belichick and myself, those conversations. You know those guys who do the insider stuff for the NFL, they’ve got to put stories out there. That one was a complete falsehood. Coach Belichick when that story came out was recruiting in South Jersey and he’s gone to recruit kids in Princeton.
“I mean that story had no legs. I think what often happens in rumoring, people try to make a connection. A to B equals C. Well, that’s not always the case. Yes, Tom Brady is being involved in interviews. Yes, Tom Brady is doing research on head coaching candidates. Yes, Tom Brady is calling people up for advice and council because that’s what he does to be so great. It’s what he does, but don’t assume because he’s doing that he wants Bill Belichick.
“Bill Belichick committed to North Carolina, he committed to me, he committed to the university. There’s been no conversation about anything, and we drive from this office here to where we’re staying. We commute together, and we both talk about how messed up the NFL is and how thankful we’re in college football.”
"Bill Belichick is completely committed to North Carolina..
That story about him going to the NFL was a complete falsehood and that story had no legs"@mlombardiNFL #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/XRA3pzw5FY
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 9, 2025
While Lombardi does not believe that Belichick is entertaining NFL offers, it is unclear whether he would be privy to that information. It is entirely possible that Belichick has spoken to NFL teams without telling Lombardi. However, it is also possible that Lombardi is right, and no conversations have happened.