Now that Bill Belichick signed his name on the dotted line to become the 35th head coach in North Carolina football history, the Tar Heels have released the details above the line.
One, in particular, has spurred cause for concern.
Should the second-winningest coach in NFL history decide to leave his post in Chapel Hill right before or after his first season, he would incur a fine of only $1 million.
The provision kicks in on June 1 of next year, approximately two months before the 2025 college football season is set to begin.
The term sheet also states that, should Belichick, 72, leave before June 1, 2025, the move would be much more expensive, costing $10 million.
The head coach’s five-year deal pays that amount per year, with $10 million guaranteed from 2025-27. The contract is non-guaranteed in its final two years.
Belichick, with the swoosh of his pen, became the highest-paid state employee in North Carolina history.
While the industry continues to dissect the fine print of that contract — and theorize about how many pro seasons the coach would need to capture 15 more victories and break Don Shula’s all-time record — Belichick is maintaining that Chapel Hill is not a pitstop.
“I didn’t come here to leave,” the six-time Super Bowl champion said during his introductory press conference Thursday. “I’ve always wanted to coach in college football … this is a dream come true.”
Belichick’s “dream” is an unequivocal boon for a Tar Heels football program that hasn’t won an ACC title since 1980. And UNC is ready to ride his wave.
As part of the contract, the university pledged approximately $13 million for “revenue sharing,” which could be part of the school’s Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) pool.
The program is set to increase its NIL budget from $4 million to $20 million, per USA Today.
For Belichick, that lump sum will go a long, long way towards recruiting the kinds of players who can carry Tar Heel football to national relevance. Perhaps even a national championship.
And, with one of the greatest minds in the game behind the bench, UNC hopes to become a pipeline to the league in line with the Georgias and Alabamas of the world.
But by the time those kids are in the building, could Belichick already be out the door?
Lawrence Taylor — who earned All-American honors at UNC and played for Belichick when he was a defensive coach with the Giants — says the all-time coaching wins record, in such close reach, is of no relevance to the newest Tar Heel.
Time will tell.
