Bill Belichick's decision to take the North Carolina Tar Heels job shocked many in the pro and college football worlds.
Belichick, 72, is one of the most respected former NFL head coaches but has never coached at the college level. He served as an assistant with the Baltimore Colts in 1975 and went on to win several Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and New York Giants.
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Teddy Bruschi (AP Photo/Matt Slocum/File)
The decision to attend college at this crossroads in his life and career puzzled one of his former players, linebacker Tedy Bruschi.
“What are we doing here? I mean, Bill Belichick is going to be the coach at North Carolina State. I mean, college football. There's only one bowl game I'd like to see Bill Belichick coach. It's the Super Bowl, right?'' he said on ESPN's “Sunday NFL Countdown.'' “I don't want to see him coaching in the Lawnmore Bowl in December or January. That's not me.”
“I don't see why there's no interest in where we bring Belichick. Belichick adapts quickly and is well coached by who he is,” Bursi continued. “Will he make one of the teams in need of a head coach this year an immediate candidate? I mean, yeah, he will. That's how good he is. Now he's going to make one of the teams that need a head coach this year an instant candidate. They won't reach the level of England Patriots or whatever.''But the team is competent from the start and after that it's all about the players.
“I can't believe Bill Belichick won't be in the NFL next year. … I don't know how this happened.”
New University of North Carolina head football coach Bill Belichick speaks to the crowd at the Dean Smith Center during halftime of an NCAA college basketball game on Dec. 14, 2024 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Ben McCune)
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New University of North Carolina head football coach Bill Belichick walks on the court at the Dean Smith Center during halftime of an NCAA college basketball game on Dec. 14, 2024 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Ben McCune)
Despite the historical drama surrounding the two, Belichick officially agreed to take the job, despite hearing from the New York Jets last week if he had interest in a potential coaching position. .
Julian Edelman considered the move and proposed a more sunny successor.
“To me, it's the most surprising thing in history that the greatest NFL football coach is no longer in the NFL,” the former wide receiver said on “FOX NFL Kickoff.” “The more I think about it, the more it makes sense.”
“A, the players I'm projecting to: I was a quarterback in college and a receiver (in the NFL). Tom Brady went on to become the greatest quarterback of all time with a sixth-round draft pick. Rob Gronkowski was a second-round pick and became The Quarterback, the greatest tight end of all time. He knows how to project players.
“B. Nostalgia: Bill's dad coached at North Carolina…he loves anything his dad was a part of, so that makes sense. And three, the (Michael) Jordan Tar Heels. It's a powder blue “hoodie''. ”
Belichick will replace Mack Brown as head coach. The Tar Heels are 6-6 this year and will play UW in the Fenway Bowl. Freddie Kitchens coaches the team for the game.
Julian Edelman (Kathryn Riley/Getty Images/File)
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North Carolina has lost six consecutive bowl games. Since 1998, there has been one season with 10 wins.
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