Michigan Reportedly Hires Longtime Bill Belichick Staffer as New CFB Assistant GM

Michigan is hiring Berj Najarian, who was Bill Belichick's long-time staff member and right-hand man when he was the New England Patriots' head coach, to be the program's new assistant general manager/strategy.

ESPN's Pete Thamel reported the news on Friday regarding Najarian, who joins a new staff led by first-year Wolverines head coach Kyle Whittingham.

An ESPN profile in 2011 highlighted Najarian's role with the Pats.

"Point-person for day-to-day operations of the team and acts as liaison across football and non-football departments," per ESPN (h/t Lauren Campbell of Mass Live).

"Najarian manages several elements of head coach Bill Belichick's off-field agenda, including football and stadium operations, player and staff communication, scheduling and personal requests. In addition, Najarian manages various special projects in coaching and player personnel."

Najarian worked for the Patriots from 2000-2023, helping the team win six Super Bowls. He then served under former Pats offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien on his staff with Boston College when he was head coach in 2024 and 2025. Najarian was the team's Chief of Staff.

Now Najarian heads to Michigan, which is entering a promising new era under Whittingham, who coached Utah from 2005-2025 and won 177 games. Najarian has a wealth of experience and obviously had great success with the Pats. Ultimately, this looks like a smart hire for Whittingham as the Wolverines hope to enjoy a 2026 season that looks promising under new leadership.