How ex-Tar Heels QB Drake Maye feels about Belichick-UNC rumors originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
If anyone in New England is an expert on the University of North Carolina football program, it’s New England Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye.
Maye spent three seasons in Chapel Hill from 2021 to 2023 and was UNC’s starting quarterback in 2022 and 2023. He was a fantastic starter for North Carolina and landed in New England with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
North Carolina needs a new head football coach after the school fired Mack Brown, who coached Maye, last month. And recent reports suggest that Bill Belichick, who spent 24 years as Patriots head coach and won six Super Bowl titles during that span, could become the Tar Heels’ next coach.
Belichick confirmed this on ESPN’s on Monday The Pat McAfee Show that he had spoken to the school about the position. Reports on Wednesday indicated that Belichick and North Carolina were nearing a deal, but nothing has been finalized yet.
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What does Maye think about the possibility of Belichick leading the UNC program?
“Yes, obviously, legendary coach, the success he had here and what a great place Chapel Hill is,” Maye said at his press conference on Wednesday.
“Anytime you have a legendary NFL coach going back to college, I think that’s cool. It’s pretty interesting to me. I don’t think it’s official yet. I think Coach Belichick would love Chapel Hill, and Chapel Hill is a great place. Just like I said, nothing official, but cool for a Hall of Fame coach to go back and coach some college kids.
Would Belichick look good in North Carolina blue?
“Yeah, I think everyone looks good in Carolina blue,” Maye said. “It’s a special color and North Carolina also has some navy (blue) in it.”
North Carolina’s program could certainly use a boost, and hiring Belichick would certainly generate plenty of headlines.
The Tar Heels had a 6-6 record and finished 12th in the 16-team ACC last season. The last time North Carolina won a postseason game was the 2019 Military Bowl, but it has a chance to end the drought on Dec. 28 in the Fenway Bowl against UConn in Boston.
