Bill Belichick has already been on the recruiting trail, but it’s officially official that he is the next North Carolina football coach after signing his contract.
And it is a contract with striking numbers.
The Tar Heels released Belichick’s deal, which runs through the end of 2029, Thursday. The 72-year-old will earn $10 million per season, although his official base salary is $1 million.
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New North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick at the Loudermilk Center of Excellence. (Jim Dedmon/Imagn Images)
The other $9 million will come from what is described as “supplementary income.”
Belichick, the six-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, immediately becomes one of the top 10 head coaches in college football. Seven coaches earned $10 million or more in 2024, according to USA Today.
The highest-paid coach in the country is Georgia’s Kirby Smart at more than $13 million per season. Clemson’s Dabo Swinney ($11.13 million), Texas’ Steve Sarkisian ($10.6 million), USC’s Lincoln Riley ($10.043 million) and Ohio State’s Ryan Day ($10.021 million), fresh off a win in the national championship, complete the top five.
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Like many other contracts, Belichick has incentives that trigger massive paydays if fulfilled, including a $750,000 bonus if the Tar Heels make the College Football Playoff. If they win a national title, Belichick would receive a $1.75 million bonus.
Other incentives include a $150,000 bonus for reaching a bowl game, as well as a $350,000 bonus if the team makes an “elite” bowl game that is not played. Those would include the Pop-Tarts Bowl, Gator Bowl, Duke’s Mayo Bowl and a few others.
New North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick speaks to the media at Loudermilk Center for Excellence. (Jim Dedmon/Imagn Images)
Finally, a Top 25 ranking at the end of the regular season would also trigger a $250,000 bonus for Belichick. And he’d like to get his $350,000 bonus for an elite Bowl game if the Tar Heels finish in the top 25.
There is also confirmation that Belichick has a buyout clause, which was widely reported as North Carolina’s stipulation if he were to leave for an NFL job. If Belichick leaves UNC before June 1, the university will be owed $10 million. After June 1, the purchase drops to $1 million.
However, despite multiple NFL teams reportedly reaching out to Belichick, he said during his introductory press conference that he is in Chapel Hill to stay.
North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick answers questions during a press conference at Loudermilk Center for Excellence. (Jim Dedmon/Imagn Images)
He’s already showing his commitment to the program by hitting the road and talking to recruits as he aims to build a playoff roster through the new NIL system.
