Inside Bill Belichick's 'first of its kind' escape hatch in North Carolina contract

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Inside Bill Belichick's 'first of its kind' escape hatch in North Carolina contract

Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY NETWORK · USA TODAY Sports

Thu, Oct 9, 2025 ·

6 min read

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Tucked onto the 18th page of Bill Belichick 's North Carolina coaching contract resides a most consequential paragraph.

Officially, it's item 12(b).

Unofficially, this paragraph amounts to North Carolina's escape hatch.

The paragraph outlines UNC's financial obligations if it fires Belichick without cause at any point before the end of his five-year contract. Which, seems relevant. The Tar Heels are 2-3 in Belichick's first season, including three blowout losses in games against Power Four opponents.

Belichick earns $10.1 million in annual compensation . His contract, though, includes $0 in financial severance if he's fired in the final two seasons of his term.

This amounts to an exceptionally unusual buyout structure for an initial contract within college football's ecosystem.

∎ View the entire 2025 college football coach salary database here

BELICHICK'S ROUGH START: How bad? Try worst-start-in-program-history bad

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Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 01: Head coach Sonny Dykes (L) of the TCU Horned Frogs and head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels shake hands following their game at Kenan Stadium on September 01, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The TCU Horned Frogs defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels 48-14. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

(Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 20: Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels walks off the field after losing 34-9 against the UCF Knights at FBC Mortgage Stadium on September 20, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
(Julio Aguilar, Getty Images)

Oct 4, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney with North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick before the game at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
(Bob Donnan, Bob Donnan-Imagn Images)

Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels and Jordon Hudson look on prior to the game against the Richmond Spiders at Kenan Memorial Stadium on September 13, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
(Lance King, Getty Images)

North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick watches his team during the first half against Central Florida at FBC Mortgage Stadium on Sept. 20, 2025 in Orlando, Fla.
(Julio Aguilar, Getty Images)

North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick walks the sideline during the first quarter against the UCF Knights at the Bounce House Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
(Mike Watters, Mike Watters-Imagn Images)

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 08: North Carolina Tar Heels football head coach Bill Belichick and his girlfriend Jordon Hudson look on during the first half of the game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Duke Blue Devils at Dean E. Smith Center on March 08, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
(Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)

Bill Belichick, North Carolina, $10,100,000
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)

Sep 13, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick on the sidelines in the second quarter at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
(Bob Donnan, Bob Donnan-Imagn Images)

Sep 20, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick walks into the field before the game against the UCF Knights at the Bounce House Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-Imagn Images
(Mike Watters, Mike Watters-Imagn Images)

North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick watches the Tabor Academy vs. Milton Academy game on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025.
(Marc Vasconcellos/The Enterprise)

Oct 26, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and girlfriend Jordon Hudson enter the field before the game between the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Navy Midshipmen at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
(Vincent Carchietta, Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images)

Sep 13, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick before the game at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
(Bob Donnan-Imagn Images)

Sep 1, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick with TCU Horned Frogs head coach Sonny Dykes after the game at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
(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)

Sep 13, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Richmond Spiders head coach Russ Huesman with North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick after the game at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
(Bob Donnan, Bob Donnan-Imagn Images)

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 06: Head Coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels walks off the field after the football game against the Charlotte 49ers at Jerry Richardson Stadium on September 06, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by David Jensen/Getty Images)
(David Jensen, Getty Images)

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 01: Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels looks on during the second half of the game at Kenan Stadium on September 01, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
(Jared C. Tilton, Getty 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, right, embraces TCU head coach Sonny Dykes after TCU defeated UNC, 48-14 on Sept. 1, 2025.
(Bob Donnan, Imagn Images)

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 01: Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts during the first half of the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Kenan Stadium on September 01, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
(Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)

CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA - SEPTEMBER 01: Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels walks off the field following the completion of the first half of the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Kenan Stadium on September 01, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
(Jared C. Tilton, Getty Images)

Belichick's deal is scheduled to be worth a sum of more than $50 million in total compensation, of which $30 million, or about 60%, is guaranteed.

That percentage is not particularly unusual. Here's what is: Belichick's compensation is 100% guaranteed throughout the first three years of his deal. In other words, North Carolina will owe Belichick $10 million a year for three years regardless of whether he's fired, so long as he's not fired for cause. However, in the final two years of the deal, 0% is guaranteed.

"I have never seen any contract where there is a three-year guarantee and no guarantee in the last two years," said Martin Greenberg , an expert sports lawyer and former law professor at Marquette. "This is an anomaly and something that is the first of its kind. There is absolutely nothing to compare this to."

Starting on Jan. 1, 2028, Belichick could be fired without cause at no cost to the university, under his contract terms.

In effect, Belichick's contract amounts to a three-year pledge that's masquerading as a five-year deal.

"This is an experiment," Greenberg said, "and, basically, this experiment involves three years of guaranteed money."

Although the contract's severance structure is an outlier by industry norms, it reflects the reality of Belichick's situation. He's 73, and he'd never coached a college program before.

"The phrasing of this deal, being seemingly a three-year deal with two years put on the back, seems to make a lot more sense through the prism that Bill Belichick is currently the oldest coach in the country, and he's never coached in college," said Dan Lust, a sports law attorney at Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP in New York and a professor at New York Law School who hosts the " Conduct Detrimental " sports law podcast.

Bill Belichick's annual compensation tops $10 million

In the meantime, the six-time Super Bowl champion is cashing in.

His $10.1 million compensation ranks ninth nationally and tops that of Tennessee 's Josh Heupel ($9 million), Penn State's James Franklin ($8.5 million), Indiana's Curt Cignetti ($8.3 million) and Arizona State's Kenny Dillingham ($7.4 million), a quartet of Power Four coaches whose teams made the playoff last season.

Belichick also enjoys a bonus structure that would award him up to a maximum bonus of $3.35 million this season if North Carolina won the national championship and he achieved other markers. Some bonuses are more attainable than others. For instance, he'd earn a $150,000 bonus if North Carolina qualified for a low-level bowl game.

North Carolina contract allows Bill Belichick an offramp, too

The contract also establishes an offramp for Belichick if he were to leave for another job. Since June 1, Belichick would owe just $1 million for leaving before the end of his deal. That's cheap, by industry standards.

"I didn't come here to leave," Belichick said after he accepted the job.

Where would he go? North Carolina's performance reduces the likelihood other suitors will come knocking.

Coaching contracts rarely reach their conclusion. Either Belichick will be fired, retire or otherwise depart UNC before the end of his deal, or he'll receive a contract extension or amended deal before the contract reaches its end point. An amended contract could alter the terms of his buyout.

In USA TODAY Sports' review of compensation for Division I football head coaches, we found 32 are earning $7,000,000 or more this season. Georgia’s' Kirby Smart is No. 1 at $13,282,580 million.
(Alan Poizner, Imagn Images)

Ryan Day, Ohio State, $12,575,000

(Adam Cairns, Columbus Dispatchvia USA TODAY NETWORK)

Lincoln Riley, Southern California, $11,537,560

(Ron Johnson, Imagn Images)

Dabo Swinney, Clemson, $11,382,775

(Ken Ruinard, GREENVILLE NEWS via USA TODAY Network)

Steve Sarkisian,Texas, $10,800,000

(Scott Wachter, Imagn Images)

Dan Lanning, Oregon, $10,400,00

(Ben Lonergan, The Register-Guard via USA TODAY NETWORK)

Kalen DeBoer, Alabama, $10,250,000

(Melina Myers, Imagn Images)

Brian Kelly, LSU, $10,175,000

(Petre Thomas, Imagn Images)

T10. Josh Heupel, Tennessee, $9,000,000

(Brianna Paciorka, News Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK)

T10. Eli Drinkwitz, Missouri, $9,000,000

(Denny Medley, Imagn Images)

T10. Mark Stoops, Kentucky, $9,000,000

(Matt Stone, Courier Journal via USA TODAY NETWORK)

T10. Lane Kiffin, Mississippi, $9,000,000

(Petre Thomas, Imagn Images)

Deion Sanders, Colorado, $8,975,000

(Ron Chenoy, Imagn Images)

T15. James Franklin, Penn State, $8,500,000

(James Lang, Imagn Images)

T15. Matt Rhule, Nebraska, $8,500,00

(Dylan Widger, Imagn Images)

Mario Cristobal, Miami, $8,302,883

(Sam Navarro, Imagn Images)

Curt Cignetti, Indiana, $8,300,000

(Rich Janzaruk, Herald-Times via USA TODAY NETWORK)

Bret Bielema, Illinois, $8,200,000

(Ron Johnson, Imagn Images)

Shane Beamer, South Carolina, $8,150,000

(Jeff Blake, Imagn Images)

Luke Fickell, Wisconsin, $7,825,000

(Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel via USA TODAY NETWORK)

Jedd Fisch, Washington, $7,575,024

(Joe Nicholson, Imagn Images)

Brent Venables, Oklahoma, $7,552,000

(BRYAN TERRY, THE OKLAHOMAN via USA TODAY NETWORK)

Billy Napier, Florida, $7,470,000

(Sam Navarro, Imagn Images)

Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State, $7,442,000

(Patrick Breen, The Republicvia USA TODAY NETWORK)

Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame, $7,421,201

(Michael Caterina, Imagn Images)

Jonathan Smith, Michigan State, $7,350,000

(Nick King, Lansing State Journal via USA TODAY NETWORK)

Pat Narduzzi, Pittsburgh, $7,259,909

(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)

Kirk Ferentz, Iowa, $7,175,000

(Jeffrey Becker, Imagn Images)

Sonny Dykes, TCU, $7,036,013

(Patrick Breen, The Republic via USA TODAY NETWORK)

T31. P.J. Fleck, Minnesota, $7,000,000

(Matt Krohn, Imagn Images)

T31. Mike Elko, Texas A&M, $7,000,000

(Maria Lysaker, Imagn Images)

College football buyout structures vary by contract

There's no singular buyout structure to which the industry adheres. Severance language varies from contract to contract. The most coach-friendly contract guarantees 100% of the compensation for the full term of the deal.

Jimbo Fisher helped launch this type of contract with a mega-deal and subsequent extension at Texas A&M. Fisher was due full compensation, through the end of his term, whether he thrived or fizzled. When the Aggies fired him with eight years remaining on his deal, Fisher was owed a buyout exceeding $75 million, smashing the industry record.

Penn State's Franklin signed a guaranteed contract similar to Fisher's, ensuring his full compensation would be paid out if he's fired.

Some coaches have a fixed-figure buyout, while others have a ladder structure, with the severance amount stepping down incrementally as the contract progresses.

Other contracts have a percentage-based buyout structure. That's the case for Florida's Billy Napier, a coach on the hot seat. He signed a seven-year contract in 2021 scheduled to be worth $51.8 million, with 85% of his remaining compensation guaranteed if he's fired without cause at any point during the term.

North Carolina got off cheap, by industry standards, when it fired Mack Brown last year with three seasons left on his deal. It owed him $2.8 million, paid in installments.

Bill Belichick effect shows in sellouts, if not in wins

Beli ball soured quickly. His Tar Heels look a mess on the field, giving the appearance of being one of the Power Four's worst teams. Belichick's initial value to North Carolina extended beyond the team's record. A winner of six Super Bowls as coach of the New England Patriots , he's magnetized attention and attendance.

A burgeoning football program could make North Carolina even more appealing to the Big Ten or the SEC , the nation's richest and most powerful conferences, if conference realignment reignites in the 2030s, as some industry pundits believe will happen.

The Tar Heels sold out each of their six home games for 2025, before the season began. The home fans keep witnessing lopsided losses.

A capacity crowd of 50,500 created an electric environment at Kenan Stadium for the season opener. The game attracted ESPN's prime-time Labor Day slot. Fans began filing out in the third quarter while TCU stomped the Tar Heels .

In the Oct. 4 loss to Clemson, students were leaving at the end of the first quarter with UNC trailing 28-3.

Before the season, UNC chancellor Lee Roberts declared "we've hired the best coach."

Or, North Carolina hired a coach past his pinnacle and out of his element.

Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network's senior national college football columnist. Email him at BToppmeyer@gannett.com and follow him on X @btoppmeyer .

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: If Bill Belichick sours at North Carolina, here's how UNC escapes deal

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F1 São Paulo GP 2026 – Practice 2

Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach

Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach

Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach

Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach

Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach

Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach

Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach

Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach

Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach

Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach

Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach

Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach

Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach

Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach

Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach

Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach

Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach

Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach

Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach

Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach

Super Bowl champion Bill Belichick struggling early on as North Carolina football coach

Bill Belichick's annual compensation tops $10 million

North Carolina contract allows Bill Belichick an offramp, too

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

Who are the highest paid college football coaches? Check out the top 32.

College football buyout structures vary by contract

Bill Belichick effect shows in sellouts, if not in wins