The Dotted Line
After coaching the New England Patriots for 24 years, Bill Belichick retired at the end of last season. He is the coach with the most Super Bowl wins in NFL history (8), the most wins as a head coach (6), the most Super Bowl Appearances as a coach (12) and as a head coach (9). He also has the most playoff wins as a head coach (31) and has won the most divisional championships as a head coach (17).
He retired just 15 shy of the NFL coaching record for most wins, which is held by Don Shula at 347. Because the record would likely be within reach in two seasons, many people believed that after he left New England, he would take a job with another NFL team to secure his legacy as the greatest NFL coach of all time.
That’s why many were surprised when Belichick recently accepted the head coaching job for the University of North Carolina. On December 11, he and Nate Knuffman, UNC’s vice chancellor for finance and operations, signed a four-page Proposal of Contract Terms and Conditions, a document that outlines the terms for the position.
The next day, the Tar Heels held a press conference to announce him as their next head coach. When asked if there was a chance he would go back to the pros, Belichick responded, “I didn’t come here to leave,” which generated applause from the North Carolina fans in attendance.
The proposal calls for a five-year contract worth $10 million annually, with the first three years guaranteed. It has a bonus structure for wins, postseason performance, academics and coaching accolades. It also contains head coaching perks like courtesy cars, relocation expenses and outside income.
But, Belichick bolting for the NFL is certainly within the realm of possibilities. So, UNC included a provision saying that if he terminates the deal without cause before June 1, 2025, the school would be entitled to a $10 million payment made by, or on behalf of, Belichick. The amount decreases to $1 million after June 1, which is surprising, giving the team’s first game isn’t until August 30. In either case, the buyout “shall be payable to the University within 180 days of the date of termination.”
Because Belichick was earning $20 million a season while coaching the Patriots, and NFL owners have a lot more money than him, he still may leave even in spite of the $10 million payout. If he does, though, at least North Carolina will get some cash.
Or will they?
While Belichick and the school signed the Proposal of Contract Terms and Conditions, the two parties haven’t actually signed a contract.
The first sentence of the document says, “The University proposes to enter into an Employment Agreement with Bill Belichick to serve as the Head Football Coach.” It goes on to say, “It is understood and agreed that this proposal of terms and conditions shall not constitute a binding agreement, and the parties intend to negotiate expeditiously and in good faith to finalize these terms and conditions into a long-form agreement.”
Industry sources have said that the passage of a few months between the signing of a term sheet and a final contract being executed is common in the college ranks. Belichick is no common coach, however. Those same sources say that having no official contract in place results in a legal gray area about how much, if any, of a buyout would exist if Belichick left.
UNC general manager Michael Lombardi insists Belichick is “1,000% committed” to the school. We’ll see.
Reg P. Wydeven
Latest posts by Reg P. Wydeven (see all)
- Big Brother - March 18, 2025
- Home Inequity - March 11, 2025
- Cola Wars - March 4, 2025
- Lawsuit is a Pill - February 25, 2025
- Hat Trick - February 18, 2025