With defensive coordinator Steve Belichick still on medical leave, North Carolina coach Bill Belichick will take over defensive play-calling duties for the Tar Heels against TCU this weekend, according to On3. On Aug. 6, Bill Belichick announced that Steve was on medical leave but did not provide any more details or a timeline for his return. During his press conference to kick off game week, Belichick said there was no update on Steve and declined to discuss the team's plan for defensive play-calling.
"I'm not really gonna talk about that situation," Belichick said. "We'll work it out." In the weeks leading up to their neutral-site game against TCU in Dublin, the North Carolina staff has worked collectively on the game plan, and defensive line coach Bob Diaco has been leading the charge. However, when the game kicks off, Belichick will be holding the play sheet as he oversees that side of the ball for the Tar Heels.
Belichick began his coaching career in the 1970s and cut his teeth on defense and special teams. In 1985, Belchick became a defensive coordinator for the first time, working under Bill Parcells with the New York Giants. The team won two Super Bowls with Belichick leading the defense, and he parlayed that into a coaching job with the Cleveland Browns in 1991.
In 1997, Belichick and Parcells would reunite on the New York Jets with Belichick working as a defensive coordinator once again. He spent three seasons in that role before taking over the New England Patriots in 2000. In his 24 seasons with New England, Belichick took over play-calling duties here and there.
Most recently, he called plays for the Patriots in 2019 after Brian Flores took a coaching job with the Miami Dolphins and Greg Schiano resigned suddenly in March. Belichick has plenty of experience working on the defensive side of the ball, and there's no doubt he was heavily involved with helping son Steve develop game plans each week last season. The question now is whether Belichick can help the Tar Heels take a step forward on that side of the ball after a frustrating 2025 campaign.
No one can knock Belichick's resume as a defensive coordinator -- or even a defensive head coach. His defenses were regularly among the best in the NFL, and that was certainly the case in 2019, when he last called plays full-time. That season, New England had a strong argument as the best defense in the league.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
