In one of the biggest surprises the football world has ever seen, Bill Belichick has accepted the head coaching job at the University of North Carolina.
The hire, which sent shockwaves through both college and professional ranks, marks a dramatic pivot in the legendary coach’s storied career.
While Belichick’s move to the collegiate level is a headline-grabber, insiders suggest it stems as much from dissatisfaction with the NFL as it does from enthusiasm for college football.
According to ESPN’s Seth Wickersham, Belichick’s departure from the NFL world was fueled by deep frustrations with the league’s culture and decision-makers.
Wickersham reported that Belichick is “disgusted” with what the NFL has become.
The legendary coach reportedly became exasperated with team owners unwilling to embrace his vision and methods.
One of Wickersham’s sources told him that Belichick was “tired of the stupidness” that has crept into league dynamics.
“Belichick’s feelings toward the NFL have shifted he has told confidants. Look at the past year. Robert Kraft, whose life and legacy was forever altered by Belichick, fired him in January,” Wickersham wrote.
“Only one out of seven teams with openings showed interested in hiring him. The Falcons interviewed him twice, but when it came time for the team’s brass to rank choices, Belichick failed to land in anyone’s top three candidates – in part, ESPN later reported, because Kraft helped torpedo his chances.
“Weeks later in February, ‘The Dynasty,’ the Kraft-owned Patriots documentary, launched on Apple and minimized Belichick’s role in the team’s historic run so roundly that former Patriots players spoke out against it.
“Belichick was entertaining in his myriad media roles, but the league seemed to move on without him. Owners spoke of him respectfully, but not desirably.”
The allure of college football, by contrast, appears rooted in its operational differences.
Wickersham’s report described the college landscape as “more transactional and less relational,” a structure that seemingly appeals to Belichick’s approach to building programs.
A source even framed his decision to leave the NFL as “a big f*ck you to the league.”
Interestingly, Belichick met with his trusted buddies and former assistants Josh McDaniels, Matt Patricia, and Michael Lombardi on a weekly basis to discuss literally everything about every team in the league.
The group tried to anticipate which teams could potentially be looking for a new head coach after the season.
While the Bears job was said to be attractive to Belichick, he anticipated that ownership would go with a more offensive-minded head coach such as Ben Johnson or Kliff Kingsbury.
With it looking more likely that Mike McCarthy will return in Dallas, the hopes of a potential Cowboys partnership were dashed.
Meanwhile, both New York teams were out of play for different reasons. The Jets never stood a chance because Belichick despises owner Woody Johnson and the entire organization.
While Belichick loves the Giants and holds the franchise near and dear to his heart, he didn’t want to see his former assistant Brian Daboll get fired and also looked at Big Blue as too big of a rebuilding job.
Also, the Jaguars were thought to never be a serious possibility because of problems with their vision and their ultra-analytical approach.
After evaluating the options, he chose to venture into uncharted territory rather than endure another NFL hiring cycle.
Needless to say, the excitement in Chapel Hill (or should I say Chapel Bill?) is off the charts.
Some have hailed the move as revolutionary, a chance for Belichick to redefine college football strategy and recruiting.
Others have expressed skepticism, wondering whether his rigid professional style will translate effectively to the college game.
Belichick reportedly sent UNC a 400 page “organizational bible” where he laid out his entire vision (and demands) for the program.
He has since hired close friend and longtime NFL executive Michael Lombardi as the general manager of the program. (Something you’re going to see a whole lot of programs copy.)
As time goes on, we will surely get more insight into why Belichick decided to take the college route.
But if you believe Wickersham’s reporting, a major reason why is because of his disgust with what the NFL has become.
What are your thoughts on the report? … Have certain NFL teams made a major mistake by not pursuing Belichick more aggressively?
At the end of the day, how do you think he will do at North Carolina???
