Report: Bill Belichick's future at UNC uncertain after 'preliminary conversations' on future

Potential exit strategy discussions reportedly occurred at North Carolina regarding head coach Bill Belichick. Andrew Jones of 247Sports reported the news Wednesday, saying “preliminary conversations” about the possibility of firing Belichick have happened.

The goal is reportedly to eliminate or minimize Belichick’s buyout, should North Carolina want to make a change at head coach of the football program. This comes on the heels of North Carolina CB coach Armond Hawkins being suspended for an extra benefits violation.

Jones also cited an unnamed source in the report, saying “there are many other violations that have occurred, many on the recruiting front.” The report went on to say that “I don’t think it’s a lock that Belichick coaches the Cal game.”

North Carolina is currently on a bye week, so the reported and potential discussion around Belichick’s future seems timely. The Tar Heels are back in action at Cal on Friday, October 17th at 10:30 p.m. ET.

North Carolina is 2-3 on the season with Belichick’s only two collegiate wins coming against non-Power Four programs. It’s been a slog otherwise. Of course, having Hawkins suspended was just the latest negative press coming out of Chapel Hill.

The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman reported Tuesday night that Hawkins was suspended by the program. Allegations of extra benefits provided to a player’s family first surfaced in an explosive report from WRAL.

According to one of Feldman’s sources, the alleged extra benefits included providing a player’s family members sideline passes for a game. That is in violation of NCAA rules.

Armando Hawkins arrived at North Carolina to join Belichick’s staff earlier this year. He had previously had a few stints as an off-the-field staffer, but this was his first full assistant role.

Hawkins had previously served as a defensive analyst at Washington in 2024, as a defensive analyst and assistant director of recruiting at Arizona in 2023, as an assistant recruiting coordinator at Colorado in 2022 and as a director of high school relations at USC from 2020-21.

ESPN personality Paul Finebaum, appearing on ‘First Take’ on Tuesday morning, reacted to Belichick’s start at North Carolina. He said that, for all that he accomplished coaching in the pros, Belichick is on his way right now to being one of the worst coaches in the history of college football, which has Finebaum feeling even some sympathy for him at this point.

“Here’s what I can’t get over. I mean, we’re talking about Bill Belichick, who is the greatest NFL coach in history? Right now, he’s working toward being the worst coach in college football history. That’s how bad he is,” Finebaum said. “There’s nothing to be happy about. I mean, it’s an abject disaster. I feel badly for the guy because it seemed like a good idea at the time. But, right now? I mean, who in their right mind would want to go play for him?”