UNC could face a big hurdle in trying to hire Bill Belichick

Bill Belichick appears to have a legitimate interest in coaching at the college level, but North Carolina could face a tall order trying to bring the six-time Super Bowl champion to Chapel Hill.

Belichick confirmed Monday that he had conversations with North Carolina Chancellor Lee H. Roberts, although the 72-year-old did not explicitly say what the discussions were about. If Belichick really wants the job, UNC may have to dig deep to find enough money to recruit him.

According to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, some people think Belichick’s salary and the zero amount UNC would have to come up with could stand in the way of making a deal.

Sources believe some of the biggest obstacles facing a UNC-Belichick union are salaries and NIL$ commitments. Can Carolina make a respectable salary offer to the coach while still getting the millions needed to compete at the required level?

-Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) December 9, 2024

During a Monday appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Belichick laid out a hypothetical vision he would have for his program if he took a college job. He said he would like to have the same resources as an NFL franchise.

“If I was in a college program, the college program would be a pipeline to the NFL for players who have the ability to play in the NFL,” Belichick said. “It would be a professional program – training, nutrition, program, coaching, techniques that would transfer to the NFL. It would be an NFL program at the college level and an education that would prepare players for their careers after football, whether that be at the end of their college year or at the end of their professional careers.

“IF I was in a college program, it would be a pipeline to the NFL for players who had the ability to play in the NFL.

This would be a college-level professional program.

I have no doubt that the players would be ready for the NFL” ~ Bill Belichick #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/JyMDtzs2yR

– Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 9, 2024

This all seems very expensive, and UNC doesn’t have the same football resources as powerhouse programs like Georgia, Alabama and Texas. The question is whether wealthy donors would come on board to help give Belichick what he wants.

One theory is that Belichick could be trying to take advantage of NFL teams by flirting with UNC. At this point, his interest starts to seem real.