Bill Belichick's first year in college football was forgettable. The question now is whether it was also temporary.
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After a 4-8 season at North Carolina, speculation has begun about whether Belichick could make a quick return to the NFL. According to NFL insider Josina Anderson, at least two teams have shown interest in speaking with Belichick on what she described as an "exploratory basis."
Anderson did not name specific franchises, but noted that there are "upper-level personnel still fond of him" in Atlanta, New York and Cleveland. That alone is enough to keep the rumor mill humming.
Belichick, of course, needs little introduction at the professional level. He spent 24 seasons as head coach of the Patriots, winning six Super Bowls, three AP NFL Coach of the Year awards and a record 31 playoff games. His 302 regular-season wins place him among the most accomplished coaches the league has ever seen.
After parting ways with New England following the 2023 season, Belichick took a year away from coaching before making the unexpected jump to Chapel Hill in December 2024.
The experiment did not go as planned. North Carolina finished 2-6 in ACC play and closed the season on a three-game losing streak.
Meanwhile, the NFL carousel is already spinning. The Titans and Giants both have head coach openings after firing Brian Callahan and Brian Daboll during the 2025 season.
The Giants, notably, are one of the organizations Anderson specifically mentioned as still holding Belichick in high regard.
More openings are likely once the season ends, widening the lane even further.
Belichick also coached five seasons in Cleveland before his historic run in New England, giving him deep ties across the league. Whether that translates into a return to the sidelines remains to be seen.
But the path exists. And if the NFL calls, it would not be surprising if Belichick listens.
