Bill Belichick's Shocking Stat After Zero UNC Players Picked in 2026 NFL Draft

Bill Belichick's plan to turn North Carolina into the NFL's "33rd team" hit another snag.

The Tar Heels didn't have a single player selected in the NFL draft, the first time that has happened since 2016.

Before he got the job, Belichick sold a vision of bringing a pro approach to UNC football. Winning games is the primary objective for any head coach, but the six-time Super Bowl champion emphasized his plan to mold Tar Heels players for the next level.

Year 1 was a failure no matter how you cut it.

North Carolina lost eight games, and a lot of the buzz behind Belichick's arrival fizzled in the opening week as his squad lost 48-14 to TCU. Not having anybody picked in the draft is the perfect coda to the 2025 season.

Only two UNC players cracked the top 300 for Bleacher Report's big board: cornerbacks Thaddeus Dixon (No. 165) and Marcus Allen (No. 280).

With the benefit of a full offseason and having adjusted to life as a college coach, Belichick should be set up better in his second season.

The early signs are encouraging. North Carolina is 17th in 247Sports' team rankings, and 20 players are coming in through the transfer portal.

But Belichick learned the hard way his Hall of Fame-caliber resume doesn't count for much in terms of attracting talent. Marquee powers like Ohio State, Georgia, USC, Alabama and Oregon have already proven themselves to be strong incubators for NFL aspirants.

Should UNC turn things around in 2026, the perception of the program will change for the better.