Bill Belichick Expected NFL Teams to Show 'Some Interest' for 2025 Before Joining UNC

Bill Belichick surprised many by accepting the head coaching position at the University of North Carolina last week. Intrigued by the opportunity with the Tar Heels, he decided to make the jump to college coaching, despite anticipating interest from NFL teams once the season concluded.

"I think there would've been some interest, but in the end, really, it's not about what could've been or would've been, it's about the opportunity at North Carolina," Belichick told Jim Gray on the Let's Go! podcast (h/t Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk). "I think this program is in the right spot now to take off."

The 72-year-old NFL coaching legend believes he can build a winning team at North Carolina, a program that finished the regular season 6-6 ahead of their bowl game, and he is confident he can do it quickly.

"We're gonna get the team, make it as competitive as we can as soon as we can," Belichick said.

Despite Belichick's enthusiasm for joining the program, the Tar Heels and Belichick agreed to a buyout clause reduced to six months and $1 million, suggesting potential flexibility if he decides to return to the NFL in 2026, according to Gray.

Prior to his deal with North Carolina, Belichick reportedly expressed interest in a head coaching opening with the New York Jets. However, the time crunch between the Jets' delay in responding and the Tar Heels needing a decision led to the end of his NFL career and his transition to college football.

"What I heard was that Bill did indeed reach out to (former Jets general manager) Mike Tannenbaum," Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer said Sunday. "(Mike) Tannenbaum was a little stunned but brought it back to the Jets' front office people, and they mulled it. And they were working to set up a conversation between Belichick and Woody Johnson."

Belichick also did not respond to at least one other team that had shown interest, signaling that he was prioritizing the Jets and not actively seeking other opportunities, according to Breer.

"This was a real thing," Breer said. "I do think it illustrates that Bill at least wanted to make sure that the door was closed on the NFL for right now before he jumped into the college ranks."

Belichick has never coached at the college level. He began his NFL career in 1975 with the Baltimore Colts, which eventually led to his 24-year tenure as head coach of the Patriots until 2023.