Bill Belichick said he “didn’t come here to leave” when he was introduced to North Carolina, but his contract certainly gives him the opportunity to do that.
Just hours after the legendary New England Patriots coach was introduced as the next head coach of the Tar Heels, details of his contract began to leak, and there’s one that could be very interesting to NFL owners.
Via Chris Vannini of The Athletic, Belichick’s contract has a $10 million buyout through June 1, 2025, at which point it will be reduced to $1 million, an amount that virtually any NFL team would be willing to pay if it wants him hire. That milestone date is about three months before Belichick is set to make his debut at Kenan Memorial Stadium in Chapel Hill.
June 1 is well after the NFL coaching cycle normally ends, so UNC likely won’t have to worry too much about losing its huge asset before he’s even made his debut unless a team loses its coach sometime this summer loses due to unforeseen circumstances. Still, the minuscule buyout is more of a sign that he hasn’t ruled out a return to the NFL than anything he said at Thursday’s press conference.
The bigger question, of course, is whether an NFL team will want him. The answer was “no” last cycle, although that question was actually only asked of the Atlanta Falcons, the only team to interview him this past offseason.
Belichick has an NFL resume better than any coach, but he will also enter the 2025 season at age 73, four years removed from his last winning season and seven years removed from his last Super Bowl title. Plus, Tom Brady isn’t walking through that door with him.
As for the rest of Belichick’s contract, it’s technically a five-year deal that pays the coach $10 million annually, but the fourth and fifth years are not guaranteed. It also includes $3.5 million in annual bonuses for reaching certain win totals and finishing in the College Football Playoffs.
UNC will reportedly pay $13 million to players through revenue sharing, with a $10 million salary pool for assistant coaches. If Belichick jumps to the NFL, it won’t be due to a lack of investment from the Tar Heels that is relevant to their peers.
