Bill Belichick has responded to rumors he’s negotiating a buyout at North Carolina even as one football analyst says, “It feels like the beginning of the end.”
“I’m fully committed to UNC Football and the program we’re building here,” Belichick said in a statement after internet rumors surfaced that he had “discussed buyout options with North Carolina’s hierarchy.”
“Coach Belichick has the full support of the Department of Athletics and University,” North Carolina AD Bubba Cunningham said.
Belichick, the architect of six Super Bowl championship teams with the New England Patriots, agreed to a five-year, $50 million deal to return to coaching in December 2024. His father, Steve, had been an assistant coach at the school from 1953-55 before going on to become assistant football coach for more than three decades at the United States Naval Academy.
The rumblings of Belichick’s potential exit come after he was ripped by players’ parents for fostering a “toxic environment” at North Carolina.
“It’s an unstructured mess,” one parent said, speaking to WRAL News under the condition of anonymity. “There’s no culture, no organization. It’s a complete disaster. I don’t fault the players; I fault the leadership that created this toxic environment.”
The Tar Heels are 2-3 and are the only team in FBS to lose three games by 25 or more points. They have a bye this week before visiting Cal on Oct. 17.
Beliichick’s tenure at North Carolina has been beset by one distraction after another, many related to the 73-year-old coach’s 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson.
Most recently, the team scrapped plans for a documentary with Hulu chronicling the season, per Inside Carolina.
“It just feels like the beginning of the end,” ESPN football analyst Dan Orlovsky said Thursday on “Get Up.” “But it is shocking that if that is the case, that Coach Belichick seems to accept failure. I mean, this is a guy that’s the greatest coach in the history of the NFL, arguably. He’s had one winning season since 2019. That’s very surprising…
“I was one that thought this would work, but it feels like the beginning of the end. And it feels like both sides should want that as well.”
Story by Adam Zagoria, NJ.com.
