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Amid interest from a handful of NFL teams, including the Las Vegas Raiders, legendary coach Bill Belichick reportedly won’t leave his new job at North Carolina to rejoin the NFL ranks.
Per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Belichick has “no plans” to return to the NFL and his “sole focus is on coaching and recruiting” for the Tar Heels. Russini also reported that Belichick is recruiting in New Jersey on Wednesday.
Belichick, who coached his last season for the New England Patriots in 2023, agreed to become the next head coach of North Carolina on Dec. 11, inking a five-year contract with the Tar Heels.
In his introductory press conference, he made it clear that taking the job in Chapel Hill isn’t just a gateway for him to get back to the NFL.
But Belichick’s commitment to North Carolina hasn’t swayed teams with vacant coaching positions from reaching out to him. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported Wednesday that Raiders minority owner Tom Brady has been in touch with his former coach, noting that “Brady believes the situation in Las Vegas requires a coach of Belichick’s expertise and stature to establish a sustainable winning program.”
Las Vegas fired Antonio Pierce on Tuesday after his one-year stint saw the Raiders go 4-13. Pelissero reported that “at least one other team” has checked in on Belichick’s interest in an NFL gig.
Belichick’s contract with the Tar Heels includes a $10 million buyout if he leaves before June 1, 2025. While that would be a steep figure to pay, getting a contract with an NFL team would make it a bit easier.
For now, it seems Belichick is staying put in the collegiate ranks.
He’s taking over a North Carolina program that has seen relative success in recent years but is far from being of championship caliber. The Tar Heels finished 6-7 in 2024, leading to veteran coach Mack Brown’s firing after six seasons.
Though Belichick has no experience as a college coach, the six-time Super Bowl champion will look to take what he learned in the professional ranks and apply it to a college football landscape shifting more toward a professional model in the age of NIL.
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