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Bill Belichick’s former gamers converse out after coach’s stunning choice to take North Carolina job

12/16/2024

Bill Belichick’s choice to take the North Carolina Tar Heels job got here as a shock to many across the skilled and school soccer world.

Belichick, at 72 and one of the vital extremely revered former NFL head coaches, has by no means coached on the collegiate stage. He was an assistant with the Baltimore Colts in 1975 earlier than ultimately profitable a number of Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and New York Giants.

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Tedy Bruschi (AP Photo/Matt Slocum/File)

The choice to go to school at this juncture of his life and profession left one in every of his former gamers, linebacker Tedy Bruschi, quizzical.

“What are we doing right here? I imply, with Bill Belichick going to teach North Carolina. I imply, school soccer — there’s just one bowl sport I need to see Bill Belichick teaching and that’s the Super Bowl, OK?” he mentioned on ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown.” “I don’t need to see him teaching some Lawnmower Bowl in December or January. That’s simply not who I’m.”

“I don’t know the way there wouldn’t be any curiosity as to the place you convey a Belichick in, and he makes you instantly related and well-coached by who he’s,” Bruschi continued. “Would he make one in every of these groups that wanted a head coach this yr a right away contender? I imply, sure, he would. He is that good. Now, he’s not going to be on the extent of six championships New England Patriots or something like that, however your crew could be competent from the get-go; after which it’s in your gamers.

“I can’t imagine Bill Belichick received’t be within the NFL subsequent yr. … I don’t know the way this occurred.”

New North Carolina head soccer coach Bill Belichick speaks to the gang on the Dean Smith Center throughout halftime of an NCAA school basketball sport in Chapel Hill, N.C., Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

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New North Carolina head soccer coach Bill Belichick walks on the court docket of the Dean Smith Center throughout halftime of an NCAA school basketball sport in Chapel Hill, N.C., Dec. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

Belichick formally agreed to take the job final week regardless of checking in to see if there was curiosity from the New York Jets’ aspect about probably teaching them, regardless of historic drama surrounding each events.

Julian Edelman weighed in on the transfer and provided a sunnier taker.

“It’s essentially the most stunning factor within the historical past of something to me that the best NFL soccer coach is just not going to be within the NFL,” the previous huge receiver mentioned on “FOX NFL Kickoff.” “The extra I give it some thought, the extra it is smart.”

“A, projecting gamers: I used to be a quarterback in school, performed receiver [in the NFL]. Tom Brady was a sixth-round draft decide, turned the best quarterback of all time. Rob Gronkowski was a second-round decide, turned the best tight finish of all time. He is aware of how one can mission gamers.

“B, nostalgia: Bill’s dad coached at North Carolina … he loves something his dad was part of, in order that is smart. And then, three, [seeing] the ‘Hoodie’ in a [Michael] Jordan Tar Heel powder blue.”

Belichick is about to interchange Mack Brown as head coach. The Tar Heels are 6-6 this yr and play UConn within the Fenway Bowl. Freddie Kitchens will coach the crew for the sport.