Belichick’s foray into college football will be his first. Thanks to the connections developed by his father, Navy assistant Steve Belichick, Bill was given an opportunity to take an entry level position at the bottom of Ted Marchibroda’s Baltimore Colts staff in 1975, skipping the college ranks entirely. Belichick began his coaching career as a special assistant to Marchibroda before leaving for the New York Giants in 1979, rising to the role of defensive coordinator under Bill Parcells.
Belichick moved from the Giants to the Browns, serving as Cleveland’s head coach from 1991 to 1995. He was among the casualties associated with the franchise’s move to Baltimore, returning to an assistant role in New England and New York before taking the head job with the Patriots in 2000. That commenced a legendary run. Belichick led the Patriots to nine Super Bowl appearances, winning six of them and keeping them among the NFL’s elites for two decades.
Belichick’s time in New England neared its end following the departure of Tom Brady, as the Patriots posted just one double-digit-win season from 2020-22. He and the Patriots mutually parted at the end of the 2023 season, clearing the way for Belichick’s understudy and former player, Jerod Mayo, to take over in New England.
During his 24 seasons in Foxborough, Belichick oversaw one of the greatest dynasties in professional sports history. Belichick currently sits 26 wins away from tying Don Shula for most regular-season wins in NFL history (328) and 14 wins behind Shula for most regular-season and playoff wins by a head coach (347). His move to North Carolina would seem to end his chances of tying or surpassing Shula.
UNC fired Brown in the days before the Tar Heels’ season-ending loss to in-state rival North Carolina State, bringing Brown’s tenure in Chapel Hill to an end with a record of 44-33 and a 1-4 record in bowl games. They’ll hope an NFL legend can turn them into a collegiate power.