The North Carolina Tar Heels are 2-1 and only narrowly fell to Clemson on the road last weekend. Things already look significantly better in Chapel Hill this year than they did last year, on the field, at least. Off the field, UNC has seen general manager Michael Lombardi resign after previously being placed on administrative leave while the school investigated a personnel complaint against him.
Then Steve Belichick, Bill Belichick's son and the Tar Heels' defensive coordinator, went on indefinite leave before ultimately resigning from his role as well. Now, amid all the off-field turmoil, UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts is voicing his continued support for Belichick. "Coach Belichick continues to have our support, the support of the administration and of the board [of trustees]," Roberts said earlier this week.
"He understands that that support comes with expectations around conduct and behavior. Nobody understands that better than coach Belichick." More news: Lincoln Riley Under Fire as ESPN Puts His USC Job on the Line vs Oregon More news: Josh Heupel’s Bold Faizon Brandon Praise Has Tennessee Fans Fired Up Controversy has followed Belichick throughout his illustrious career. The most famous moment was "Spygate" in 2007, when the Patriots were caught illegally filming opposing coaches' defensive signals.
Belichick was fined $500,000 for the situation, and New England lost a first-round draft pick. He was also later tied to "Deflategate," when the team was accused of deflating footballs below the legal limit, though that scandal centered more on Tom Brady. Even when he arrived at UNC at the end of 2024, he brought negative headlines along with him.
His relationship with now 25-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson, who took on an unusually prominent role around the program, raised eyebrows throughout his debut season leading the Tar Heels, who posted a disastrous 4-8 record. Now entering his second season with the program, Belichick continues to find himself at the center of one of college football's biggest ongoing storylines, even as he sees much better results on the field. Of course, things could change if the Tar Heels put up another losing season, which is still very much on the table.
Next up, UNC hosts No. 3 Notre Dame before a brutal ACC slate: at Pittsburgh, at Duke, vs. More news: Pete Golding, Ole Miss Put on Upset Alert 1 Week After Taking Down LSU
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