A chaotic offseason for UNC football continues.
Defensive coordinator Steve Belichick, the son of head coach Bill Belichick, is on indefinite medical leave and not with the team as the Tar Heels continue their preseason practices, Bill told reporters on Thursday.
No further details on his health were disclosed.
“We look forward to getting him back as soon as possible,” Bill Belichick said.
When asked whether if it was a possibility that Steve would miss games, Bill Belichick repeated, “As soon as possible.”
Bill Belichick said the defensive staff would continue their collective work in his son’s absence, and was non-committal when asked who might handle defensive play-calling if Steve Belichick has not returned by the time UNC opens its season on Aug. 29 in Ireland against TCU.
“We’ll see,” he said.
Steve Belichick is entering his second season with the Tar Heels, having previously spent one season as the defensive coordinator at Washington. He joined his father’s staff when Bill took over as head coach at North Carolina last season.
The news comes amidst turmoil at Chapel Hill. UNC football general manager Michael Lombardi was placed on paid administrative leave last month following a human resources complaint from a former front office employee.
The College Sports Commission, which investigates potential NIL violations, is also investigating the program. On Thursday, The Assembly reported that outside lawyers had been hired to participate in the Lombardi investigation.
The Office of University Counsel will lead the investigation with the advising of the outside counsel.
The Tar Heels are coming off a lackluster 4-8 2025 campaign in Bill Belichick’s first year at the helm.
While Bill Belichick expressed confidence that the team would take a step forward this year, off-the-field stories are piling up and threatening to distract from what the program hopes is a turning of the page.
