Bill Belichick’s shocking move to North Carolina has been making headlines, but not everyone is convinced he’ll stay for the long haul.
Former New England Patriot Ross Tucker recently voiced his doubts about Belichick’s commitment to the Tar Heels during an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show.
Tucker suggested that the legendary coach might not stick around if an NFL opportunity arises.
“Looking at the buyout, I firmly believe that as soon as he got an NFL opportunity, or gets an NFL opportunity, I think he would leave the next day,” Tucker said.
“I think the initial buyout is $10 million. If somebody decides in January that they want Belichick, I think he would be gone. Certainly, next year, if somebody gets fired, I think he’d much rather be in the NFL.”
Tucker questioned whether Belichick cares about how leaving UNC might be perceived.
“He doesn’t care about the optics, just like I don’t believe he cares that much. It would be a ‘bad look’ for him if the (Jacksonville) Jaguars offered him the job in January. If he leaves UNC, I don’t think he cares that much. I think he’d say, listen, ‘I’m sorry, but I have a better opportunity,'” Tucker added.
The player-turned-analyst also suggested that North Carolina has already achieved its primary goal by hiring Belichick.
“On some level, I think that North Carolina is already getting what they wanted out of this. Everybody is talking about them. They were able to reel in the big fish, and they are getting relevancy.”
This isn’t the first time Tucker has expressed skepticism about Belichick’s fit at UNC.
Appearing on WEEI in Boston, Tucker criticized the idea of Belichick coaching college athletes, saying it’s not in the coach’s skill set.
Belichick’s contract includes a buyout that starts at $10 million but decreases to $1 million by June 2025.
Tucker sees this as a clear indicator that Belichick could leave for an NFL job before then, especially during the typical NFL coaching carousel period.
If Belichick does leave, speculation has emerged that he may want his son, Steve, to step in as his successor.
It’s been reported that Steve is the coach-in-waiting at UNC and figures to take over for his father whenever he decides to step down.
Perhaps he’s right, but if we’re being honest, Tucker’s take seems a little wacky. After all, Belichick seems genuinely happy with his decision to take the college route.
What are your thoughts on Tucker’s comments? … You can’t actually see Belichick ditching the job he JUST got for an NFL opportunity. (Or can you???)
