Bill Belichick is indeed considering taking a head coaching job in the NCAA.
After reports surfaced Thursday that Belichick had interviewed with the University of North Carolina for its head-coaching vacancy, the six-time Super Bowl champion confirmed the talks on Monday.
"I've had a couple good conversations with (University of North Carolina) chancellor (Lee. H.) Roberts," Belichick said on ESPN's The Pat McAfee Show.
Belichick opted not to go into more detail when asked by McAfee. Instead, Belichick offered a quip about his reputation for giving terse responses during news conferences with the Patriots.
“Yeah, let's just leave it at that, Pat," Belichick said with a grin. “I mean, I don't want to give out too much information. I want to get my press conference aura back.”
Belichick's interview, first reported by Inside Carolina, came a week after the school fired its winningest coach — College Football Hall of Famer Mack Brown. The school announced Nov. 26 that Brown wouldn't return for a seventh season in his second stint at the school, though Brown stayed on to coach last weekend's rivalry loss to N.C. State.
Arguably the greatest NFL coach of all-time, Belichick has never coached at the collegiate level. But he does have ties to the college game, as his father, Steve, was a legendary scout and assistant coach at Navy for several decades. Steve was also an assistant coach with North Carolina during the mid-1950s.
"I grew up around college football and I've had a chance this year to take a longer look at it (this year)," Belichick told McAfee.
When asked what he would bring to the North Carolina program, Belichick said that "if" he takes the job, and he emphasized the "if," he would make the Tar Heels an "NFL program" and the college level.
Belichick and the New England Patriots agreed to mutually part ways on Jan. 11 after an incredible 24-year run that included the six Super Bowl victories.
After Belichick did not get hired before the start of the 2024 NFL season, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported in September that he was interested in returning to the sidelines in 2025.
Most assumed it would come in the NFL, but it appears he may take his talents to the NCAA instead.
— With files from the Associated Press
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