By Chris Marler
Imagine if someone told you five years ago that Nick Saban would quit coaching to become a media member, and his friend and former colleague Bill Belichick would quit unemployment to take a job at a mid-tier ACC school?
I don’t know if I’ve even processed it after writing it at this exact moment.
Watching this unfold has been wild to say the least. The news first broke from Ollie Connolly who has been updating the progress and negotiations on X. Here’s the timeline of events that have been shared so far.
Update: Belichick has agreed to become the next UNC coach. Belichick handed the school a 400 page “organizational bible” with structure, payment plans, staffing choices etc. decisions on whether to commit with UNC. He is expected to know their decision within 24 hours https://t.co/DAV2yX9Mn5
— Ollie Connolly (@OllieConnolly) December 10, 2024
Belichick’s bible would require historic levels of investment from the school. Includes salary minimums position by position and a willingness to hire two staffs: a coaching staff run by Belichick; a recruitment staff run by a sitting college GM — who would require a buyout
— Ollie Connolly (@OllieConnolly) December 10, 2024
Belichick has a college and pro version of his updated manual and has shared it with other schools and NFL teams. But he drafted a new one specific to UNC that touched on every aspect of the program and school. Will need sign off from AD, chancellor, trustees and boosters
— Ollie Connolly (@OllieConnolly) December 10, 2024
There has already been pushback from the group of 13 trustees, with input from wider faculty. The investment would overhaul the school’s approach to football; Belichick unsure if the school will meet the demands and is unwilling to negotiate
— Ollie Connolly (@OllieConnolly) December 10, 2024
Per sources, I’m told Bill Belichick’s negotiations with North Carolina include a guarantee that Stephen Belichick will be named the school’s head coach in waiting. UNC is open to that guarantee. Discussions are not a bid to gain leverage for NFL offers and BB is open to the move
— Ollie Connolly (@OllieConnolly) December 6, 2024
A 400 page Belichick bible might be one of the most hilariously fascinating parts of the story. Imagine telling a potential new hire that you may offer him the job and the response was “Great. Can you read this manifesto on your coffee break?”
The attention to detail and laser focus on making winning the only thing that matters is why Belichick is the greatest NFL coach of all-time. But Billy, we just need you to go beat Wake Forest on Saturday not plan out your future family legacy on Tobacco Road. It’s not that deep. Plus we all know that at least 100 pages of that “bible” were about giving Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia a job by any means necessary.
If I had to guess, the other 300 pages were about building an entire offensive philosophy around 5’10” 180-pound slot receivers that are “sneaky fast, gritty, weight room warriors with a super high motor and concrete jawline.
Either way I can’t wait to see it.
