North Carolina made a major financial commitment to attract legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick to Chapel Hill.
UNC and Belichick, 72, agreed a five-year contract, the school announced. The terms of the deal are reported to be $10 million annually. That would be a big jump from the $5 million UNC paid Mack Brown, a national championship-winning coach, in his final season at the school.
Only seven coaches in the FBS earned more than $10 million in 2024, a group that doesn’t even include Ohio State coach Ryan Day or LSU coach Brian Kelly.
Initial reports from The Athletic indicated that Belichick’s contract was for three years and $30 million, a surprisingly low length of time that left sources stumped. A five-year agreement would be standard. Schools hand out five-year contracts, maybe six if the coach is particularly desirable, for recruiting purposes. Purdue recently gave new coach Barry Odom a six-year contract, for example.
The legendary eight-time Super Bowl-winning coach had never coached college football before committing to take over the UNC program. The former New England Patriots coach has reportedly been interested in a succession plan that would eventually pass the job to his son, Steve, who currently serves as Jedd Fisch’s defensive coordinator in Washington.
Belichick, who worked under legendary Alabama coach Nick Saban while playing with the Cleveland Browns, won 333 games in 29 seasons as an NFL head coach. He reportedly made $20 million a year as coach of the New England Patriots before being fired after the 2023 season. He interviewed several times for the Atlanta Falcons opening which ultimately went to Raheem Morris, but after failing Landing a coaching job in the NFL last cycle, he spent the 2024 season working in a variety of media roles, including ESPN’s ManningCast.
Belichick will replace Brown, 73, who was fired after going 44-33 in six seasons at UNC. It was Brown’s second stint leading the UNC program after a successful career from 1988 to 1997 that included six bowl appearances.
FURTHER: Super Bowl-winning coach’s decision to return to college
