Bill Belichick’s UNC deal is unofficially official.
The former Patriots coach has yet to sign the five-year contract he agreed to last month to be UNC’s next head coach, CBS Sports reported on Tuesday.
Belichick signed a term sheet proposal with UNC on Dec. 11, which explained basic terms for his first college job — but the document stated that it was not a binding agreement.
The CBS report also said the situation is a “legal gray area” due to Belichick’s buyout clause with UNC, which is $10 million if he terminates his deal before June 1, and $1 million after that.
UNC GM Mike Lombardi responded to the report on X on Thursday, saying the NFL isn’t an option for Belichick.
“Bill is recruiting in DC today and Baltimore tomorrow,” Lombardi wrote. “His focus is on North Carolina football, hiring staff members and developing the team. The NFL isn’t a option so please stop making it one. Thank you.”
During an appearance later Thursday on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Lombardi said Belichick is loving the recruiting process.
“Coach Belichick is on the road, he’s in D.C. today in spite of all the stories saying he’s not working here and the contract and all that,” Lombardi said, adding “the reception has been wonderful” from recruits.
McAfee went on to mention how Lombardi has been “so loud” about his commitment to UNC amid reports in the media.
“I’m loud because I think so many of them, especially the one that keeps going on, is being generated by someone who doesn’t like our program, who doesn’t like me, who doesn’t like coach Belichick … they keep kicking something that doesn’t exist,” said Lombardi, who admitted he, too, hasn’t signed his UNC contract.
As of Thursday, there are six NFL head coaching vacancies: the Cowboys, Bears, Jaguars, Jets, Saints and Raiders.
Tom Brady, now a minority owner of the Raiders, reportedly tried to gauge his former coach’s interest in a return to the NFL after Las Vegas fired Antonio Pierce.
Brady was Belichick’s quarterback during the Patriots’ two-decade dynasty, which included six Super Bowl тιтles across 20 seasons together.
Belichick, 72, and the Patriots parted ways after 24 seasons together in last January.
“I didn’t come here to leave,” Belichick said during his introductory press conference at Chapel Hill on Dec. 12, 2024.
Belichick is currently ᴀssembling his coaching staff at Chapel Hill.
