Bill Belichick, fresh off signing a $10 million deal to become North Carolina’s head football coach, is wasting no time building the Tar Heels’ future.
The eight-time Super Bowl-winning coach (yes, those two as the DC of the Giants count) is diving headfirst into recruiting, including making waves with a visit to one of the nation’s top prospects, five-star quarterback Jared Curtis from Nashville.
The Nashville Christian standout, ranked as the No. 1 quarterback in the 2026 recruiting class, received a surprise in-home visit from Belichick.
The visit was confirmed by recruiting analyst Hayes Fawcett of On3, who posted on X: “Five-Star QB Jared Curtis had an in-home visit today with UNC Head Coach Bill Belichick … He is the #1 QB in the 2026 Class.”
Curtis, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 225 pounds, is one of the most sought-after young quarterbacks in the country.
In December, he revealed to On3.com that UNC had piqued his interest because of Belichick’s arrival in Chapel Hill.
“Arguably the greatest coach of all time. Definitely want to get up there and meet him,” Curtis told On3.com at the time.
Belichick’s move to North Carolina has brought renewed energy to the Tar Heels’ recruiting strategy. The legendary coach is going beyond the typical regional focus, targeting elite talent from across the nation.
Curtis, however, won’t be an easy get. That’s for sure.
Unsurprisingly, North Carolina wasn’t even on Curtis’ radar prior to Belichick’s arrival in Chapel Hill.
In December, he listed his top six schools as Oregon, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Auburn, and Ohio State. Before that, he was verbally committed to Georgia but decommitted in November.
Belichick’s visit adds a new dynamic to Curtis’ recruitment, making UNC the first ACC school to visit him in-person.
Of course, the only other head coach to visit Curtis at home recently is Georgia’s Kirby Smart, who stopped by on January 23.
Curtis is not only the No. 1 quarterback in the 2026 class but also the No. 4 overall prospect nationwide, according to 247Sports.
He’s the top-ranked player in Tennessee and the state’s only current five-star recruit.
His performance at Nashville Christian, including a standout appearance in the Division II-A championship game, has solidified his reputation as a premier talent.
Belichick has already shown his recruiting prowess. In addition to targeting Curtis, he finalized his 2025 recruiting class with two quarterback signings.
On January 21, Belichick secured a commitment from three-star QB Au’Tori Newkirk, a top 30 prospect in Virginia who excelled at Maury High School in Norfolk. He also landed four-star quarterback Bryce Baker in December.
Belichick’s early efforts signal a new era for North Carolina football. His willingness to personally visit top recruits like Curtis demonstrates his commitment to building a championship-caliber program.
Whether the Tar Heels can land Curtis remains uncertain, but Belichick’s presence has undoubtedly shifted the landscape of college football recruiting – and put UNC firmly in the conversation for the nation’s best talent.
Considering all of this, should SEC programs be worried that they’re going to lose out on top targets to Chapel Bill and the Tar Heels???
