Sports

As the Giants begin their search for a new head coach, Bill Belichick has taken his name out of consideration.

The second-winningest coach in NFL history and current University of North Carolina head coach, delivered a statement to the media that he will not pursue any coaching vacancies.

“I have great respect and genuinely care for the New York Giants organization and both the Mara and Tisch families," Belichick wrote. "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. However, despite circulating rumors, I have not and will not pursue any NFL head coaching vacancies.

“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. My focus remains solely on continuing to improve this team, develop our players, and build a program that makes Tar Heel fans proud.

“We're on to Wake Forest.”

The statement comes after a tumultuous first season as the head of the Tar Heels football program. Reports have swirled that Belichick has looked for a way out of UNC, especially the way the team started. When the Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll this week, many connected the dots between Belichick and his former team.

Belichick's connection to the Giants is well-documented. He started with the Giants in 1979 as a defensive assistant and special teams coach, then was promoted to defensive coordinator under Bill Parcells in 1985. Belichick spent 12 seasons in total with the Giants before becoming the head coach of the Browns from 1991-95. He made stops in New England as an assistant, the Jets and the Patriots again, this time as a head coach, where he won five Super Bowls. 

However, that professional success has not followed Belichick to the college ranks, at least not yet.

Through nine games, UNC has a 4-5 record, including a 2-3 record in the ACC. The Tar Heels are in the midst of a two-game winning streak, defeating Syracuse 27-10 and Stanford 20-15. There are three more games remaining on their regular season slate (Wake Forest, Duke, NC State).

As for the Giants, offensive coordinator Mike Kafka was promoted to interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Current Giants GM Joe Schoen will head up the search for the team's next head coach.

Three days after swatting away questions about the opening for the New York Giants' head-coaching job, Bill Belichick reaffirmed his commitment to North Carolina football Friday with a statement that made it clear the first-year Tar Heels coach will not pursue any NFL head-coaching vacancies.

"I have great respect and genuinely care for the New York Giants organization and both the Mara and Tisch families," the statement reads, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "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 [Bill] Parcells’ staff for over a decade. 

"However, despite circulating rumors, I have not and will not pursue any NFL head-coaching vacancies. Since arriving in Chapel Hill, my commitment to the UNC Football program has not waivered. We have tremendous support from the university, our alumni and the entire Carolina community. My focus remains solely on continuing to improve this team, develop our players and build a program that makes Tar Heel fans proud.

"We're on to Wake Forest."

Belichick famously won six Super Bowls during his 24-season run as New England Patriots head coach, teaming up with future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady to establish a two-decade NFL dynasty. A decade before he started his Patriots tenure, though, he wrapped up a 12-season stretch on the Giants' staff. He was their defensive coordinator for a pair of Super Bowl wins: first during the 1986 season and then again during the 1990 season.

As successful as Belichick's Patriots reign was, it had an awkward ending. Brady left after the 2019 season and immediately won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Belichick, meanwhile, made the playoffs in only one of his four seasons coaching in New England after Brady's departure. 

Belichick's messy parting with Patriots owner Robert Kraft was followed by reports ahead of the 2024 season that Kraft warned Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank not to trust Belichick when interviewing him for the Falcons' head-coaching vacancy.

Belichick pivoted to work in media, and the 2024 season came and went. His decision to take the UNC job was a surprising one. His first season in Chapel Hill has delivered plenty of drama — more off the field than on, however, the wins are starting to stack for Belichick.

This story is being updated.