Bill Belichick wasn't UNC's first choice as head football coach: report

The North Carolina Tar Heels are acceptable for an breathtaking caller epoch of shot with Bill Belichick astatine the helm successful the archetypal assemblage play of his illustrious career. 

But a caller study says that Belichick, the eight-time Super Bowl champion, six of which came arsenic caput manager of the New England Patriots, wasn’t UNC's archetypal choice. 

ESPN reports that Arthur Smith, the Pittsburgh Steelers' violative coordinator, was whom the Tar Heels astir wanted to pat arsenic the antheral to instrumentality implicit their program. 

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Atlanta Falcons caput manager Arthur Smith looks connected precocious successful the 4th fourth of a crippled against the Arizona Cardinals astatine State Farm Stadium connected November 12, 2023, successful Glendale, Arizona.  (Mike Christy/Getty Images)

However, Smith opted to enactment in the NFL, wherever helium had a failed stint arsenic the Atlanta Falcons’ caput coach. In turn, the Tar Heels went to Belichick, and the determination shocked the full shot satellite arsenic helium accepted the job. 

"Smith was intrigued, and helium was seen arsenic a statement campaigner astatine UNC, with enactment from (UNC Chancellor Lee) Roberts and committee members," the ESPN study read.

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While Smith’s coaching vocation doesn’t clasp a candle to Belichick’s, helium does person Tar Heels history. 

Smith played for UNC from 2001 to 2005, and aft his playing days were done, helium became a postgraduate adjunct successful 2006. 

Smith acknowledged the Tar Heels having fixed him a "preliminary call" erstwhile Mack Brown’s dismissal came successful November. But helium was focused connected the Steelers, who yet made the playoffs arsenic a chaotic paper team. 

Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith looks connected arsenic Justin Fields, #2 of the Pittsburgh Steelers, warms up anterior to facing the Atlanta Falcons astatine Mercedes-Benz Stadium connected September 8, 2024, successful Atlanta, Georgia.  (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Smith would yet get his coaching vocation to the NFL, moving his mode done ranks until the Tennessee Titans gave him a changeable astatine violative coordinator. His occurrence nether Mike Vrabel led to him being tapped by the Falcons to instrumentality connected their caput manager role. 

However, that clip from 2021 to 2023 didn’t enactment out, with 1 main contented being the due usage of dynamic moving backmost Bijan Robinson, the team’s first-round prime successful 2023. Tyler Allgeier consistently took carries distant from Robinson, though the second inactive finished with 214 for 976 yards and 4 touchdowns. 

Smith’s archetypal play successful Pittsburgh arsenic their violative coordinator led to a middle-of-the-pack regular play decorativeness with 22.4 points per crippled (16th). The squad was besides 23rd successful full yards gained per crippled (319.4). 

Meanwhile, Belichick spent the twelvemonth extracurricular coaching, alternatively than entering the sports media abstraction with his play appearances connected ESPN’s "The Pat McAfee Show," among different opportunities. 

The North Carolina Tar Heels' caller caput manager Bill Belichick speaks to the media astatine Loudermilk Center for Excellence. (Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images)

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But Belichick’s negotiations with UNC led to a five-year, $50 cardinal deal, which besides includes a buyout if an NFL squad were to travel calling. 

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