Legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick shocked the sporting world on Wednesday afternoon when it became official that he would head back into the coaching world. Rather than accepting a job in the NFL, though, Belichick is going to the college ranks, where he will take over as the new head coach for the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Belichick has been negotiating a deal with North Carolina for the past several days after interviewing for the position last week. There are reportedly a lot of stipulations as part of the deal, with Belichick bringing a “manifesto” to the Tar Heels and laying out his plan to overhaul the program, with an eye on both name, image, and likeness, plus his assistant coaching pool.
Some rumors show that Belichick has made it clear that he wants his son, Steve Belichick – the defensive coordinator for the Washington Huskies – to be named the head coach in waiting. While we wait for that stuff to be confirmed, the contract details for Belichick have reportedly been released.
Bill Belichick finalizing a deal to become the next head coach at the University of North Carolina. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/Lt4yKktbtF
— NFL (@NFL) December 11, 2024
According to Ralph D. Russo, the former six-time Super Bowl winning head coach will be signing a three-year deal worth $30 million to coach the Tar Heels.
This number makes since for both North Carolina and Bill Belichick. It is not a long-term contract, so the Tar Heels are not hitching their wagon to a 72-year-old coach for the next decade. However, it is quite lucrative, putting Belichick among the top tier of coaching salaries in college football.
As the story continues to develop, we will wait to see what stipulations were part of the contract, and who Bill Belichick brings to Chapel Hill with him as assistant coaches. This will be a fascinating process to follow as it unfolds.