CHAPEL HILL – The New York Giants fired coach Brian Daboll on Monday, and North Carolina coach Bill Belichick’s name appeared on several lists of potential replacements.
Belichick, 73, is considered one of the greatest NFL coaches of all time. He won six Super Bowls as head coach of the New England Patriots and two as defensive coordinator of the Giants in 1987 and 1991.
But Belichick, in his first season in Chapel Hill, said Tuesday that he is entirely focused on the Tar Heels. UNC (4-5 overall, 2-3 in the ACC) visits Wake Forest on Saturday before finishing the regular season with games against Duke and at NC State.
“Getting ready for Wake Forest,” Belichick said when asked about his name coming up by WRAL. “That’s all I got this week.”
Asked if he’s been asked about it by recruits or players, Belichick said: “I’ve been asked about it from time to time. Look, I’ve been down this road before. I’m focused on Wake Forest. That’s it, and that’s my commitment to this team. And next week, it’ll be to our next opponent and so forth. But I’m here to do the best I can for this team.”
UNC has won two straight games against ACC opponents after opening the season 0-5 against teams from power conferences.
Belichick won 333 games (regular season and playoffs) in 29 seasons as head coach of the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots. He is just 14 wins away from Don Shula’s NFL record. Belichick and the Patriots parted ways after the 2023 season, and he didn’t land another NFL job that offseason.
Belichick was hired in December 2024 at UNC. It is his first college coaching job.
“I didn’t come here to leave,” Belichick said at his introductory press conference in December when asked by WRAL’s Pat Welter about the potential of going back to the NFL at some point.
Belichick signed a five-year contract worth $50 million at UNC. The first three years and $30 million are guaranteed. Belichick would owe the university $1 million if he were to leave.