The Bill Belichick-North Carolina era began Thursday and brought interesting effects.
Belichick shared laughs with Tar Heels brass and gave insight into his vision for his first stint in college football. There were reports around the details of the former New England Patriots head coach’s signing, but since UNC is a public university, it meant that public employee Belichick’s contract could be found.
The Athletic’s Ralph Russo was one of the first people to acquire details of Belichick’s contract. While it is a five-year deal, only the first three years are fully guaranteed. There is a list of details of bonuses the 72-year-old can gain depending on how North Carolina performs. However, the most fascinating detail is a $10 million buyout… until June 1, per The Athletic’s Chris Vannini. It drops to a $1 million buyout after, so Belichick could leave for the NFL after one year.
Belichick noted in his news conference that he didn’t sign with the intention to leave. However, if UNC brass don’t have the patience to deal with the future Hall of Fame head coach, things could change.
The deal also includes a massive increase to North Carolina’s NIL budget and other football necessities, so Belichick will get the resources he desires to build his ideal program. Who joins the eight-time Super Bowl champion is still unknown, but the Tar Heels seem all in on reshaping their football program with Belichick at the helm.
