By R.L. Bynum
North Carolina coach Bill Belichick made it clear Friday that he has no interest in returning to the NFL, addressing recent rumors linking him to the New York Giants’ head coaching vacancy.
In a statement posted to his Instagram account, Belichick strongly denied any plans to pursue an NFL job.
“I have great respect and genuinely care for the New York Giants organization and both the Mara and Tisch families,” he posted. “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 wavered. 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’s comments come amid speculation fueled by his long-standing ties to the Giants, where he served as defensive coordinator during two Super Bowl-winning seasons under Parcells.
But the 73-year-old coach, who signed a five-year deal with UNC last winter, emphasized that his attention is squarely on the Tar Heels’ upcoming ACC matchup against Wake Forest at 4:30 Saturday.
His message leaves little doubt: Chapel Hill is home for now, and the NFL rumors are just noise.
Photo by Joshua Lawton
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