Bill Belichick, the legendary six-time Super Bowl-winning coach, is making a surprising career move. He’s set to become the new head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels football team. This will be his first time coaching at the college level after an extraordinary 49-year career in the NFL.

The decision comes after North Carolina fired their previous coach, Mack Brown, who had been with the team for six seasons in his second stint. At 73, Brown was the oldest head coach in the FBS. Belichick, who is just eight months younger, now steps into a completely new challenge as he takes over the program.

Belichick’s name first surfaced in connection with the Tar Heels after North Carolina’s Board of Trustees held an emergency meeting to finalize his contract. Although many doubted he would consider a college coaching role, Belichick reportedly impressed UNC officials and showed a willingness to adapt to the demands of modern college football, including recruiting and managing Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities for players.

This move also means Belichick is likely stepping away from his pursuit of the NFL all-time wins record. With 329 career victories, he stands just 14 wins shy of Don Shula’s all-time record. However, his decision to join UNC seems to signal a new chapter in his storied career.

Belichick’s résumé is unmatched in the NFL. He led the New England Patriots to nine Super Bowl appearances, winning six of them, and holds records for playoff wins (19) and division championships (17). He also won three NFL Coach of the Year awards and is widely regarded as one of the greatest football minds in history.

Now, the big question is how Belichick will adjust to the college game. Recruiting high school athletes, navigating NIL deals, and building a college coaching staff are vastly different challenges than what he faced in the NFL. However, Belichick has already shared some insight into his vision for a college program. During an interview, he explained that he aims to run a system that prepares players for professional football while also focusing on their education and life after sports.

His son, Steve Belichick, currently a defensive coordinator at Washington, is expected to play a significant role in this transition. It’s believed that having his son involved was a key factor in Belichick’s decision to join UNC.

The hiring of Belichick marks a major moment for North Carolina athletics, which is best known for its powerhouse men’s basketball program. Adding a coach with Belichick’s reputation and experience instantly boosts the credibility of the football team, possibly making this one of the most significant hires in the school’s history.

Under Mack Brown, the Tar Heels had four winning seasons out of six, including strong campaigns in 2022 and 2023. Brown leaves as the program’s all-time winningest coach with 113 victories. Now, all eyes will be on Belichick as he steps into this new role and works to bring even greater success to North Carolina football.