NFL is watching Bill Belichick coach North Carolina with same incredulity you are
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NFL is watching Bill Belichick coach North Carolina with same incredulity you are
Mike Freeman, USA TODAY·USA TODAY Sports
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4 min read
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There will be people who watchBill Belichickat theUniversity of North Carolinaand just see someone coaching a college football team at a basketball school.Belichick? I remember that name. He was good in the NFL, right? CoachedTom Bradyor something like that?Why is he coaching a college team again?
For those of you who understand what this unreal moment represents for both college and professional football, good for you. But for those of you who do not, let me tell you a story.
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It begins inSuper Bowl 25played in 1991. A young Belichick, then the defensive coordinator for theNew York Giants, was facing the vauntedBuffalo Bills'K-Gun offensethat featured quarterbackJim Kellyand wide receivers James Lofton and Andre Reed. Thurman Thomas was the running back. All of those players are now in the Hall of Fame.
It cannot be overstated how terrifying that offense was to defenses. Most coordinators had no real clue how to stop them. Belichick did. He wanted to let Thomas (mostly) run free so he could use other defensive resources to slow down Kelly and the passing game.
TheGiantsplayed most of the game with just two linemen and Belichick stuck to either 2-4-5 or a 2-3-6 schemes. WhenBillsreceivers caught the football, they were pulverized.
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick stares from the sideline after his Tar Heels' debut ended in a 48-14 defeat to the TCU Horned Frogs.
(Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick reacts during the first half of the Week 1 game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on Sept. 1, 2025.
(Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)
TCU head coach Sonny Dykes approaches North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick following TCU's 48-14 win over the Tar Heels.
(Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)
The North Carolina Tar Heels got smoked by the TCU Horned Frogs in Bill Belichick's debut as head coach.
(Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick looks over the plays during the fourth quarter of the game against TCU.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick walks the sideline during the game against TCU in his collegiate coaching debut.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)
North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick stands on the sidelines during his team's game against TCU at Kenan Stadium in North Carolina.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick, right, embraces TCU head coach Sonny Dykes after TCU defeated UNC, 48-14 on Sept. 1, 2025.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)
Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick on the field before the game at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)
Bill Belichick smiles prior to making his collegiate coaching debut for the North Carolina Tar Heels on Sept. 1, 2025.
(Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)
UNC football head coach Bill Belichick on the field before his collegiate coaching debut against the TCU Horned Frogs at Kenan Stadium. TCU defeated UNC, 48-14.
(Bob Donnan, Bob Donnan-Imagn Images)
North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick was all smiles with a recruit the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Kenan Stadium.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick meets with a recruit before the Tar Heels hosted the TCU Horned Frogs on Sept. 1, 2025.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)
Bill Belichick walks the field at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina before his Tar Heels took on the TCU Horned Frogs on Sept. 1, 2025.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick looks on before his Tar Heels faced the TCU Horned Frogs in Belichick's collegiate coaching debut.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick appeared on the field at Kenan Stadium before making his college coaching debut against the TCU Horned Frogs.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)
Bill Belichick, right, shakes hands with TCU Horned Frogs head coach Sonny Dykes following TCU's 48-14 win over the North Carolina Tar Heels on Sept. 1, 2025.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)
Bill Belichick reacts as his North Carolina Tar Heels faced off against the TCU Horned Frogs at Kenan Stadium on Sept. 1, 2025.
(Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick looks on during the second half of the game between the Tar Heels and the the TCU Horned Frogs on Sept. 1, 2025. TCU spoiled Belichick's UNC debut with a 48-14 win.
(Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)
1/19
The many faces of Bill Belichick during his rough North Carolina coaching debut
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick stares from the sideline after his Tar Heels' debut ended in a 48-14 defeat to the TCU Horned Frogs.
(Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)
1/19
The many faces of Bill Belichick during his rough North Carolina coaching debut
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick stares from the sideline after his Tar Heels' debut ended in a 48-14 defeat to the TCU Horned Frogs.
(Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)
2/19
The many faces of Bill Belichick during his rough North Carolina coaching debut
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick reacts during the first half of the Week 1 game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina on Sept. 1, 2025.
(Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)
3/19
The many faces of Bill Belichick during his rough North Carolina coaching debut
TCU head coach Sonny Dykes approaches North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick following TCU's 48-14 win over the Tar Heels.
(Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)
4/19
The many faces of Bill Belichick during his rough North Carolina coaching debut
The North Carolina Tar Heels got smoked by the TCU Horned Frogs in Bill Belichick's debut as head coach.
(Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)
5/19
The many faces of Bill Belichick during his rough North Carolina coaching debut
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick looks over the plays during the fourth quarter of the game against TCU.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)
6/19
The many faces of Bill Belichick during his rough North Carolina coaching debut
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick walks the sideline during the game against TCU in his collegiate coaching debut.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)
7/19
The many faces of Bill Belichick during his rough North Carolina coaching debut
North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick stands on the sidelines during his team's game against TCU at Kenan Stadium in North Carolina.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)
8/19
Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick, right, embraces TCU head coach Sonny Dykes after TCU defeated UNC, 48-14 on Sept. 1, 2025.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)
9/19
The many faces of Bill Belichick during his rough North Carolina coaching debut
Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick on the field before the game at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)
10/19
The many faces of Bill Belichick during his rough North Carolina coaching debut
Bill Belichick smiles prior to making his collegiate coaching debut for the North Carolina Tar Heels on Sept. 1, 2025.
(Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)
11/19
The many faces of Bill Belichick during his rough North Carolina coaching debut
UNC football head coach Bill Belichick on the field before his collegiate coaching debut against the TCU Horned Frogs at Kenan Stadium. TCU defeated UNC, 48-14.
(Bob Donnan, Bob Donnan-Imagn Images)
12/19
The many faces of Bill Belichick during his rough North Carolina coaching debut
North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick was all smiles with a recruit the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Kenan Stadium.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)
13/19
Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick meets with a recruit before the Tar Heels hosted the TCU Horned Frogs on Sept. 1, 2025.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)
14/19
The many faces of Bill Belichick during his rough North Carolina coaching debut
Bill Belichick walks the field at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, North Carolina before his Tar Heels took on the TCU Horned Frogs on Sept. 1, 2025.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)
15/19
Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick looks on before his Tar Heels faced the TCU Horned Frogs in Belichick's collegiate coaching debut.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)
16/19
The many faces of Bill Belichick during his rough North Carolina coaching debut
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick appeared on the field at Kenan Stadium before making his college coaching debut against the TCU Horned Frogs.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)
17/19
The many faces of Bill Belichick during his rough North Carolina coaching debut
Bill Belichick, right, shakes hands with TCU Horned Frogs head coach Sonny Dykes following TCU's 48-14 win over the North Carolina Tar Heels on Sept. 1, 2025.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)
18/19
The many faces of Bill Belichick during his rough North Carolina coaching debut
Bill Belichick reacts as his North Carolina Tar Heels faced off against the TCU Horned Frogs at Kenan Stadium on Sept. 1, 2025.
(Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)
19/19
The many faces of Bill Belichick during his rough North Carolina coaching debut
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick looks on during the second half of the game between the Tar Heels and the the TCU Horned Frogs on Sept. 1, 2025. TCU spoiled Belichick's UNC debut with a 48-14 win.
(Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)
"When they caught the ball, we needed to hit those guys, because we felt at that time they weren't being hit hard enough,"safety Greg Jackson said. "There weren't a lot of gang tackles on those guys, because they were all spread out. When they caught the ball, all of us had to hustle to the football as fast as we could and strip the ball. It made a huge difference. If you look at that game, we did slow them down from the way they were during the season."
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Buffalo had offensive success in the Super Bowl, but they scored just 19 points after leading the league in total points scored with 458 and averaging 28.6 points a game. The Bills scored 51 points against theRaidersin the title game.
Belichick's game plan is in the Hall of Fame. He'd devise another stunning plan against theRamsinSuper Bowl 36as coach of theNew England Patriots. He created coverages that thoroughly confused theRams. The team that led the league in scoring, passing and total yards was held to just 17 points.
That is the coach who was on the Carolina sideline on Monday night.That coach.The coach who slowed two of the best offenses in the history of professional football.That coach.The coach who has won eight Super Bowls as a head coach and assistant.That dude.
I've spoken to people in the NFL over the past few days who said what many in the league are thinking. They can't believe Belichick is on a college sideline.
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"... I was shocked and I thought it was a joke when I heard he got this job," said Tedy Bruschi, who played for Belichick inNew England, on ESPN's pregame show. "This man belongs in the National Football League."
Yes, Belichick had Tom Brady. Brady was a massive cheat code. The greatest cheat code of all time. But Tom Landry had a cheat code. Chuck Noll had one. Bill Walsh did. All great coaches do. How do you think Andy Reid would do withoutPatrick Mahomes? I have the answer if you're wondering. Reid lost five title games as coach of the Eagles and also lost his only pre-Mahomes Super Bowl appearance to ... Belichick'sPatriots.
Belichick was also an NFL titan who conquered the most cutthroat, competitive glorious sport there is. Sure, he and Brady, but don't shortchange Belichick. Ever.
Who knows how Belichick will do in college? What Belichick used in the NFL as his base alloy for success was adaptability. Might not seem like it, but Belichick was actually flexible in how he approached coaching. Belichick's game plans often reflected that elasticity.
What will that look like in a college environment? It'sone of the great unknownsin the history of college football coaching.
What we do know is what he did in the NFL. That's what makes this moment so shocking.
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No one in the NFL watching will ever get used to it.
