A significant decision looms for renowned college football coach Bill Belichick, who may contemplate an NFL head coaching role during the 2027 offseason. This comes after a tumultuous period in college football, marked by an unprecedented coaching carousel that saw 34 different head coaching positions within the FBS open between mid-September and mid-February.
Typically, coaching carousels tend to slow down in the two to three seasons following a particularly chaotic one. The upcoming 2026-2027 cycle is expected to feature fewer changes, yet several programs are feeling uneasy about their current leadership. Among these is North Carolina, which is now in its second season under Belichick”s guidance.
Belichick, who previously led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl victories from 2001 to 2018, began his tenure at North Carolina following a lackluster conclusion to his NFL career. After parting ways with the Patriots in 2023, he took a break from football before transitioning to college coaching in 2025.
Previously, North Carolina attempted to rehire veteran coach Mack Brown, who led the team to a 44-33 record during his second stint. However, the Tar Heels have struggled in recent years, failing to achieve a double-digit win season, unlike their earlier success under Brown.
Belichick”s inaugural season with the Tar Heels proved to be particularly challenging, culminating in a disappointing 4-8 record overall and a 2-6 mark in ACC play. The team”s only victories came against two of the league”s weakest opponents. As the 2026 season approaches, pressure is mounting on Belichick, with many calling for a change in leadership.
According to CBS Sports” Brad Crawford, Belichick ranks ninth on a list of coaches facing the most pressure ahead of the upcoming season. Crawford highlights the possibility that Belichick could seek an NFL opportunity in 2027, noting that only the first three years of his five-year, $50 million contract are fully guaranteed. If North Carolina”s performance does not improve in 2026, the university could potentially owe him around $10 million to part ways.
Conversely, if an NFL opportunity arises, Belichick would need to pay $1 million to leave North Carolina early. The Tar Heels are set to face notable non-conference opponents, TCU and Notre Dame, in the first four weeks of the 2026 season, adding to the significance of the upcoming year. Among their eight ACC rivals, only Syracuse missed the postseason in 2025, further intensifying the scrutiny on Belichick”s leadership.
