Marco Rubio, other politicians played pivotal role in helping Bill Belichick land UNC job: report

Legendary NFL manager Bill Belichick got an improbable assistance successful his pursuit of the caput coaching occupation at North Carolina.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was called connected by the erstwhile New England Patriots manager to advocator to then-fellow Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina for the occupation astatine Chapel Hill, according to an ESPN report.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio gives a associated quality league with Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader astatine the National Palace successful Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, Pool)

"Rubio follows the sports satellite beauteous closely, and helium called maine and said, 'There's a accidental Belichick would travel to Chapel Hill,'" Tillis told ESPN.

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"He said, '[Belichick] wants a schoolhouse with a large world reputation, and helium wants to effort to physique a programme to bring them a nationalist championship. I said, 'Well, fto maine spell [make immoderate calls].'"

According to the report, Tillis past called North Carolina Senate person Phil Berger, who was initially successful disbelief until Tillis reassured him. 

One root told ESPN that "the propulsion to onshore Belichick each started with the politicians."

New North Carolina caput shot manager Bill Belichick walks connected the tribunal of Dean Smith Center during halftime of an NCAA assemblage hoops crippled betwixt La Salle and North Carolina successful Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024.  (AP Photo/Ben McKeown)

BILL BELICHICK WASN'T UNC'S FIRST CHOICE AS HEAD FOOTBALL COACH: REPORT

An eight-time Super Bowl champion, Belichick left the NFL for a twelvemonth earlier returning successful December for uncharted waters. 

He entered the assemblage shot satellite connected a lucrative five-year, $50 cardinal woody to manager the Tar Heels. The woody besides included a buyout if immoderate NFL squad were to travel calling. 

The 72-year-old manager returned to the signifier tract this week, wherever helium revealed to reporters connected Wednesday that he’s having a blast. 

Head Coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels poses with Athletic manager Bubba Cunningham during a property league connected December 12, 2024, successful Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

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"That's the large happening astir being a caput manager — I tin manager anybody I want," helium said. "I tin manager the line, I tin outcry astatine the choky ends, I tin outcry astatine the DBs, I tin outcry astatine the kickers.

"I tin spell to immoderate radical I privation and manager them. And honestly, that's the amusive part."

Belichick volition marque his assemblage shot debut astatine location against TCU connected Sept. 1. 

Fox News’ Scott Thompson contributed to this report. 

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