Just moments after the University of North Carolina revealed the hiring of Bill Belichick as their new head football coach, the Tar Heels’ Instagram account shared a nostalgic image of the renowned NFL coach as a toddler, enjoying a game from the UNC bleachers.
“Welcome home, Coach,” the post declared, recalling the time when a young Belichick spent days shadowing his father, Steve, who served as an assistant coach for the Tar Heels from 1953 to 1955.
The reaction to Belichick’s hiring quickly spread throughout the NFL community, eliciting a mix of excitement and disbelief. Known as the most celebrated coach in NFL history — with six Super Bowl victories as head coach of the New England Patriots as well as two more while serving as defensive coordinator for the New York Giants — Belichick is set to take on the challenges of college football after signing a five-year contract with UNC.
“This is a wait-and-see situation. I’ll need to see him on the sideline to believe it,” joked Kliff Kingsbury, the offensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders. “We’ll have to wait and see how the NFL job search unfolds and all that. Seeing him coaching in Chapel Hill will be quite the spectacle.”
Though Belichick’s deep understanding of football and remarkable success are widely acknowledged, there are ongoing discussions about how his coaching style will adapt to the college landscape. Some of his former players trust that his coaching philosophy can thrive at any level, including Tom Brady, the quarterback who led the Patriots during all six of Belichick’s Super Bowl victories.
“Congrats, coach. The Tar Heel way is about to become a thing,” Brady commented on Instagram, referencing the ethos he helped establish during his time in New England, known as “The Patriot Way.”
Fellow NFL players have suggested that those who join the Tar Heels should be ready for demanding challenges. “I think he’s going to excel,” said Kendrick Bourne, who spent his last three years at New England under Belichick. “Bill excels at player development. He has a knack for shaping young athletes. It will be tough, and those who come on board need to be mentally tough.”
Bourne advised future Tar Heels to maintain their mental resilience. “Stay tough and keep a gritty mindset,” he remarked. “It’s not going to be easy, but the payoff will be worthwhile.”
Despite some skepticism surrounding the decision to bring in Belichick, especially after parting ways with 73-year-old Mack Brown, current Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo opined that great coaching transcends age. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a rookie or have ten years of experience; he’s an exceptional teacher,” Mayo stated, referencing his own journey under Belichick which included a Super Bowl win in 2014. “I wish him all the best; I’m confident he’ll succeed at any level.”
Deion Sanders, another prominent figure in college football, connected with the situation as he welcomed Belichick into the coaching realm. Having made a transition of his own, after leading Jackson State for three seasons before going to Colorado, Sanders expressed his anticipation for the challenge ahead.
“Coach Bill Belichick is a coaches’ coach to all of us, along with my man coach (Nick) Saban,” Sanders wrote on the X social media platform. “They are game changers who know how to uplift people. This is a monumental moment for college football and North Carolina. If Coach is happy, I’m happy too.”
However, former Patriots defensive back Je’Rod Cherry raised concerns over whether Belichick’s traditional coaching approach would resonate with players today. “These days, you can’t coach as hard as you used to,” Cherry shared in an ESPN GameNight appearance. “The era has changed; players often balk at being yelled at or cussed out, and his methods might be received differently now.”
New York Jets safety Jalen Mills, who had the opportunity to play for Belichick during their shared time at the Patriots, expressed surprise at the decision. “I figured he’d stay put in the NFL until the end of the season,” Mills said. “But this is a great opportunity for him to reshape the program while connecting with younger players, adjusting his approach to match the younger generation’s expectations, and still maintaining the structure that reflects the NFL.”
The extent to which Belichick will maintain his traditional coaching style in the college arena remains uncertain, but he has hinted at continuity between his NFL and college methodologies. In a prior appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Belichick discussed his philosophy regarding college coaching.
“The program will serve as a pipeline to the NFL for players with potential to join the league,” Belichick emphasized. “It would adopt a professional ethos — focusing on training, nutrition, tactics, coaching, and techniques — that aligns with the NFL standard. Essentially, it will be an NFL-style program at the collegiate level.”
