Bill Belichick, the new head coach of the University of North Carolina (UNC) football team, has been settling into his role in Chapel Hill over the past month. However, recent reports suggest there may be some uncertainties surrounding his contract status.
While it was initially reported that Belichick’s contract would pay him $10 million annually over five years, making him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football, there are questions about whether the contract has been officially signed. Reports have surfaced that, despite the initial proposal, Belichick’s contract remains unsigned. This has led to speculation, particularly since several NFL teams, including the Las Vegas Raiders, have shown interest in him.
The details of Belichick’s proposed contract
The proposed terms of Belichick’s contract include a substantial annual salary of $10 million, making him one of the top-earning coaches in the college football landscape. Additionally, the deal contains a buyout clause: if Belichick were to leave UNC before June 1, 2025, he would owe the school $10 million. However, after that date, the buyout drops significantly to just $1 million.
According to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, Belichick has only signed a term sheet with UNC, which outlines the basic terms of his contract. While it’s common for coaches to sign a term sheet before finalizing a full contract in college sports, this leaves some ambiguity about the actual buyout clause. Without a fully executed contract, there’s legal uncertainty about whether the buyout would apply if Belichick decided to leave for the NFL.
The term sheet signed by Belichick on December 11 states that the terms are not yet binding and that both parties intend to negotiate and finalize a long-form agreement. The term sheet itself clarifies that it doesn’t constitute a final, enforceable contract, which raises questions about how much of the buyout would apply if Belichick left early.
Despite this, some believe the agreement could still be binding, as former ESPN NFL insider Ed Warder has suggested. Meanwhile, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has sparked further speculation by reporting that Belichick’s slow pace in adding to his coaching staff, which currently includes just six members, is fueling rumors that he may be eyeing a return to the NFL. The Raiders, in particular, have been rumored to have some interest in Belichick, especially since his former quarterback, Tom Brady, is a minority owner of the team.
For now, it appears Belichick is still the head coach of UNC, but the uncertainty surrounding his contract and buyout clause has created some tension in Chapel Hill. UNC is preparing for the possibility that Belichick could activate his buyout clause and leave for the NFL sooner than expected.
Belichick’s staff at UNC includes several familiar names, including his son Steve Belichick as defensive coordinator, former NFL head coach Freddie Kitchens, and former NFL general manager Michael Lombardi. Lombardi has publicly denied some of the reports about Belichick’s contract situation, including the claims made by Florio and Jones. The staff also features former Belichick associate Mike Priefer, who serves as special teams coach, and strength and conditioning coach Moses Cabrera.
Currently, with several NFL teams searching for new head coaches, the pressure is mounting on Belichick’s situation. Teams like the New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, and Las Vegas Raiders are all potential landing spots. Given the rumors and the terms of his contract, it remains to be seen how long Belichick will stay in Chapel Hill before potentially making a return to the NFL.