Legendary NFL head coach Bill Belichick has been all over the news lately as he signed a five-year, $50 million contract to become the next head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels in early December. This was an interesting move for Belichick as he has spent his entire football coaching career as a coach in the NFL.
Will he be coaching the Tar Heels during their bowl game against the UConn Huskies, or will it be someone else?
Is Belichick Coaching North Carolina’s Bowl Game?
While Belichick has signed his contract to become the head coach of the Tar Heels, he will not be coaching them during their bowl game on Saturday, Dec. 28. He will not take over his duties as head coach until after this season concludes.
In his place for the bowl game will be interim head coach Freddie Kitchens. He was named the interim head coach on Dec. 1 after Mack Brown was fired.
Like Belichick, Kitchens also had a career in the NFL. Although he has spent the past two seasons as UNC’s run game coordinator and tight ends coach, he spent several decades in the NFL. Most notably, he was the Cleveland Browns’ head coach in 2019, leading the team to a 6-10 record. He also spent time with the New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals, and Dallas Cowboys as an assistant coach from 2006 to 2021.
Belichick has indicated that Kitchens will stay on as part of his new coaching staff. However, his role has not yet been determined.
Bill Belichick Starts College Football Career After Nearly 50 Years in the NFL
Belichick started his coaching career nearly 50 years ago when he was hired as an assistant coach in 1975. He then spent roughly 15 years as an assistant coach for various NFL teams before getting his first head coaching opportunity with the Browns in 1991. He coached them for five seasons until he was fired in 1995. In that time, he only made one playoff appearance, losing in the AFC Divisional Game to the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1994.
After getting fired by the Browns, he spent a few years as an assistant coach before getting his head coaching opportunity with the New England Patriots in 2000. Once hired, he teamed up with Tom Brady to win six Super Bowls. He stayed with the team as the head coach through the 2023 season. Afterward, Belichick and the team decided to mutually part ways.
Since leaving the Patriots, Belichick took a year off from coaching but has now resumed his career with his contract with North Carolina.