When Bill Belichick was hired as the University of North Carolina’s (UNC) head football coach, fans and players believed this would be a new era of winning for the university. The man who led a dynasty for two decades left the NFL for college football.

But just six games into the 2025 season, Belichick’s Tar Heels are failing to meet expectations. UNC’s record is just 2-4, and insiders are whispering about tension within the program. The coach who ruled the NFL seems to be struggling with the entirely different game of college football.

Friday’s 21-18 defeat to the University of California may have been the most discouraging setback of the season yet, bringing the team to 2-4 before playing #16 University of Virginia next Saturday. It looked like UNC might pick up their first Power Four win of the season as wide receiver Nathan Leacock headed towards the end zone late in the fourth quarter. But a California defender punched the ball loose before he crossed the goal line and North Carolina lost their chance.

To make matters worse, off-field distractions have piled up. Conversations around the 73-year-old Belichick’s relationship with 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson, and the couple’s in-season travels, alongside the Tar Heels’ other losses to Texas Christian University (48-14), University of Central Florida (34-9) and Clemson University (38-10) have drawn unwelcome attention to the entire organization. The chatter has gotten so bad that Belichick and Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham felt compelled to issue statements on Wednesday responding to rumors that the head coach might exit the program.

“I’m fully committed to UNC Football and the program we’re building here,” said Belichick.

“Coach Belichick has the full support of the Department of Athletics and University,” said Cunningham.

After UNC’s loss to California, a message on the jumbotron at California Memorial Stadium mocked the Tar Heels and Belichick with a parody version of the North Carolina Athletic’s social media statement.

Off-the-field headlines continue to keep the program in the news. Last week, WRAL-TV in Raleigh, North Carolina, published a story describing “a divided locker room, a disorganized coaching staff and a failure to communicate” as the reasons for the struggles on the field.

It’s a stark difference from the expectations that surrounded his arrival, and it shines a light on the wide gap between coaching in the NFL and leading a college program.

Belichick’s most significant adjustment has been structural. The NFL and college football may be the same sport, but they have different atmospheres. In the NFL, the rosters are stable through defined contracts and drafts. In college, a coach must recruit from high school and the transfer portal, while re-recruiting his own strongest players.

The present mindset at UNC reflects the professional approach. UNC’s general manager, Michael Lombardi, spoke to reporters from The Athletic in February about his role and the future of UNC Football.

“Everything here is predicated on building a pro team,” Lombardi said. “We consider ourselves the 33rd team.”

Belichick is treating UNC as if it were another NFL franchise. It is an approach built on control and precision. While it might foster a strong, disciplined team, it also disregards college players who are not used to the intensity of the professional sport.

College football is typically grounded in human connection, recruiting, building morale and keeping young adults focused. The college grind demands communication, which starkly contrasts the transactional nature of the NFL, where football is a player’s full-time job.

Belichick is sticking to his philosophy of “do your job,” without fully recognizing that playing ball is not these college players’ jobs. College athletes require extra motivation to succeed, which NFL players might not need.

That is where coaches like Curt Cignetti thrive. After being hired by Indiana University after the 2023 season, Cignetti led that program to its first-ever 10-0 start. Following the 2024 season, the Hoosiers made their first ever College Football Playoff appearance. Cignetti is a passionate, energetic coach who gets his players to buy into thinking bigger than individual achievement. Cignetti’s success lies in his ability to communicate, something Belichick has yet to master at UNC.

Belichick’s no-nonsense, low-energy approach is not working and will not work in college football. The problems are not just cultural; they are showing up on the field.

North Carolina ranks 133rd out of 136 teams in the FBS in total offense (267.7 yards per game); defensively, the team’s opponents are completing 67.3% of their passes, which ranks 122nd. Those are uncharacteristic numbers for a team under Belichick’s leadership. Belichick ran a precise defense with New England, but in Chapel Hill, defensive mistakes abound.

Despite the team’s early struggles, Belichick’s slow start is not uncharacteristic. His first season as an NFL head coach for the Cleveland Browns ended with a 6-10 record. His first year in New England saw a 5-11 record and a last place finish in the division. However, under Belichick’s reign, New England became the greatest NFL dynasty.

Belichick’s NFL model of coaching is not producing wins. College football is an entirely different playing field, and Bill Belichick must adapt to it, not expect it to change for him. At UNC, he must stay the course and adapt to his environment. He’ll have to connect with his players and recruits and be more present and involved with the entire program. If Belichick can evolve by blending his structure with commitment and communication, 2026 could mark the start of something powerful.

If not, the Tar Heels will remain what they are now: the target of gossip and negative press.