New England Patriots
“My focus remains solely on continuing to improve this team, develop our players, and build a program that makes Tar Heels fans proud.”
Bill Belichick made it clear that he isn’t leaving his head coaching job at the University of North Carolina.
In a statement released Friday night, the 73-year-old former Patriots head coach said he isn’t interested in returning to the NFL, specifically mentioning the New York Giants.
“I have great respect and genuinely care for the New York Giants organization and both the Mara and Tisch families. The New York Giants played an important role in my life and in my coaching journey. It was a privilege for me to work for the Mara family and be a member of Coach Parcells’ staff for over a decade,” Belichick shared on his personal Instagram account. “However, despite circulating rumors, I have not and will not pursue any NFL head coaching vacancies.”
The 2-8 Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll earlier this week, who coached under Belichick on the Patriots several times throughout the 2000s and 2010s. Naturally, Belichick, who was an aforementioned coach on the Giants in several different roles between 1979-1990, was mentioned as a possible replacement.
Belichick mutually agreed to part ways with the Patriots after the 2023 season following 23 years as the organization’s head coach, winning six Super Bowls along the way. He interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons for their head coaching position in January 2024 and was a finalist, but the organization ultimately hired Raheem Morris.
Belichick took one year off from coaching during the 2024 season and pursued several media ventures, such as a podcast with Underdog and regularly appearing on multiple ESPN television programs.
In December 2024, Belichick opted to become a college coach for the first time, landing with the University of North Carolina as the program’s head coach. Entering Saturday, through nine games, Belichick’s Tar Heels have a 4-5 record (2-3 in the ACC), but are riding a two-game winning streak.
“Since arriving in Chapel Hill, my commitment to the UNC Football program has not waivered (sic). We have tremendous support from the university, our alumni, and the entire Carolina community,” Belichick added. “My focus remains solely on continuing to improve this team, develop our players, and build a program that makes Tar Heel fans proud.”
Belichick ended his statement in true Belichick fashion with these five words:
“We’re on to Wake Forest.”
UNC faces conference foe Wake Forest (6-3) at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time Saturday in their tenth game under Belichick.
This isn’t the first time Belichick has denied having interest in interviewing for the Giants’ coaching vacancy since its opening five days ago. He shot down the idea during a UNC press conference on Tuesday, the day after Daboll’s firing.
“Getting ready for Wake Forest, that’s all I got this week,” Belichick said. “I’ve been asked about [a potential NFL comeback] from time to time. Look, I’ve been down this road before. I’m focused on Wake Forest, that’s it. That’s my commitment to this team. Next week it’ll be to our next opponent and so forth. I’m here to do the best I can for this team.”
Julian Edelman, who helped New England win three Super Bowls under Belichick in the 2010s, mentioned his former coach as a good fit for the Giants.
“There’s a team down in Chapel Hill playing a little better. What if the Giants brought in Bill Belichick? … He [expletive] loves them, we all know that,” Edelman said on his “Games with Names” podcast. “Guy shed a single tear every time we played there. The only time I saw him get happy [is] when he talked about [Lawrence Taylor]. Just joking.”
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