Bill Belichick wants to keep his options open, wide open.
The legendary NFL coach recently spoke with the University of North Carolina about its vacant football coaching position, sources confirmed to CBS Sports and Inside Carolina was the first to report the interview. Those around the league have had doubts that Belichick would go to college, something he has never done in his half-century career.
But to add to the intrigue around Belichick and Carolina’s work, university representatives met with Belichick again on Thursday in Manhattan, according to multiple sources.
These conversations with UNC align with what sources have been saying for months about Belichick, who doesn’t want to be left without a coaching job for the second straight hiring cycle.
“He’s literally been open to everything,” a source familiar with Belichick said last month.
Belichick has been chasing Don Shula’s all-time wins record, and the 73-year-old future coach can’t get any closer to that with the Tar Heels. Belichick’s 302 regular-season wins are 27 behind Shula’s 328. Including the playoffs, Belichick has 333 wins to Shula’s 347. Belichick needs 15 wins to break Shula’s all-time wins record in both the regular season and postseason.
And it’s not just about breaking Shula’s record, either. Sources have indicated that Belichick hoped to break it up and then keep it. Chiefs coach Andy Reid has a combined 295 wins. With five years left on his contract and Patrick Mahomes as his quarterback, the 66-year-old Reid could very plausibly get and hold the record.
North Carolina has indicated to interested and available candidates that it hopes to have a coach installed no later than early next week, just as the transfer portal officially opens. Tulane coach Jon Sumrall (who is an hour north of Manhattan when the Green Wave takes on Army on Friday night), Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann and former Arizona Cardinals coach , Steve Wilks, have been considered candidates.
However, on Carolina’s timeline, Belichick would be missing out on any and all opportunities at an NFL gig this year.
The Jets, Saints and Bears have openings, and sources believe the Cowboys and Jaguars will have openings at the end of the year. It is believed there will be between six and eight coaching positions this cycle. But because of NFL rules, teams can’t conduct even the quickest search for a coach until the regular season ends in January.
“He’s as old as Mack [Brown]”said a UNC source, referencing the eight-month age difference between Belichick and the fired Tar Heels coach. [UNC athletic director] bubba [Cunningham] He did it most likely to appease someone. I’m not sure why Belichick went through that. “I never coached in college.”
Another source familiar with Belichick’s thinking said he understands that UNC wants to gain “instant credibility” for bringing in the six-time Super Bowl winner. But the source also saw it from Belichick’s perspective.
“It tells NFL teams that I have a lot of energy. That I’m not ready to shut it down,” the source said.
Last year, seven NFL teams had coaching vacancies, including the Patriots after parting ways with Belichick. Only one of the remaining six teams interviewed Belichick, and even the Falcons were surprised that more teams didn’t talk to Belichick to at least pick the brain of one of the all-time greats.
There was concern around the league that Belichick wanted to control the entire franchise in a manner similar to New England. Of course, the Patriots won six Super Bowls with Belichick at the helm.
If he ever wanted a say in his next stop in the NFL, Belichick no longer needs it.
“He doesn’t care about total control,” said a source close to him. “He’s been adamant about it.”
There has been a strong belief that Belichick will be joined by some longtime colleagues at his next stop in the NFL. At the top of that list would be Josh McDaniels, the former Broncos and Raiders coach who would serve as offensive coordinator.
The most obvious stop for Belichick might be Jacksonville, according to most sources. Even if you don’t need full control, you could get it there. One source wasn’t sure how enthusiastic Belichick would be about taking the program on the road in 2027, when the team leaves town when the new stadium is completed.
And no matter how many jobs there are available, one Belichick won’t consider is the New York Jets.
Belichick has been omnipresent in the pro football media this season. As one source said in September, “everything he does is strategic.”
“…[G]”Getting out there and letting people see who he is and showing a different side of his personality, how he interacts with people and how smart he is when it comes to football,” the source said. “It’s an open interview almost every weeks. “
