Sports

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.

Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins will be out for Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs and the foreseeable future with a significant foot injury, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.

Dobbins suffered the injury in the third quarter of last week’s game on a hip drop tackle from Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson. Dobbins went to his X account to voice his frustration last week.

Dobbins finished the game with 18 carries for 77 yards. He was on pace to have a career year. This season, he is fifth in the NFL with 772 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 153 carries. The Broncos are ninth in rushing yards this season.

Staying healthy has been a struggle for the sixth year running back out of Ohio State. He has not played a full season so far in his career. Dobbins missed the entire 2021 season with a torn ACL and missed all but one game with a torn Achilles when he was with the Baltimore Ravens. 

Last season with the Chargers, Dobbins was placed on injured reserve with an MCL sprain before being activated for the last few games. He signed a one-year, $2.065 million contract with the Broncos this offseason.

Until Dobbins can suit up, the Broncos are expected to rely heavily on rookie running back RJ Harvey. Harvey, who led the team in rushing yards in week one’s game against the Tennessee Titans, is the only other player on the team to lead the team in rushing yards during a week this season. 

The Broncos' second-round pick out of UCF has 214 yards and two touchdowns on 50 carries this season. Tyler Badie and Jaleel McLaughlin are the other running backs on the roster. 

Dobbins' injury is the second major injury in recent weeks for the Broncos. In late October, cornerback Patrick Surtain II went down with a pectoral injury. The injury was expected to be week-to-week and has already been ruled out for Sunday's game. Surtain was a DPOY candidate before he went down and has 21 tackles on the season.

The Broncos have also ruled linebackers Alex Singleton (illness), Jonah Elliss (hamstring) and Nate Adkins (knee) for the Chiefs game. Singleton leads the team with 89 total tackles and a sack. Ellis adds 14 tackles and one sack. Adkins has six catches for 48 yards and a touchdown this season and has missed the last two games. The Broncos are leading the AFC West division with an 8-2 record.