North Carolina football encountered new, fiercer turbulence in year one of the Bill Belichick era. A bombshell report from Andrew Jones of 247Sports revealed Belichick and UNC discussed possibly severing ties before season's end.
Is the “potential exit strategy” rumor indeed true? Belichick and UNC released statements Wednesday night addressing the rumblings.
“I'm fully committed to UNC football and the program we're building,” Belichick said in the statement.
Director of Athletics Bubba Cunningham added “Coach Belichick has the full support of the department of athletics and university.”
North Carolina, Bill Belichick will be missing a high-profile assistant
The Tar Heels even have their first NCAA investigation under Belichick.
Cornerbacks coach Armond Hawkins got suspended Tuesday. College football insider for The Athletic Bruce Feldman reported that Hawkins allegedly provided a player's family members with sideline passes to a game — a violation of NCAA rules.
Hawkins established himself as one of Belichick's top recruiters. He landed a verbal commitment from four-star athlete C.J. Sadler of Cass Technical High in Detroit on the college football recruiting trail. Hawkins also flipped Ohio State commit Jakob Weatherspoon back in July — helping secure the biggest UNC recruiting coup in the Belichick era.
The Southern California native additionally worked his Southern California connections in landing Serra High of Gardena teammates Marcellous Ryan (2026 commit) and Skylar Robinson ('27 prospect).
Hawkins could still return pending the outcome of the NCAA investigation. No word yet on who would become acting CB coach in his absence.
It's been a season of multiple unraveling moments for UNC. Belichick and the ‘Heels took a mammoth beatdown against TCU to start the season. UCF and recently, Clemson, handed the legendary head coach and his team two more lopsided defeats. One UNC assistant described the 2025 season as “f—– up” in an interview with The Guardian.
North Carolina has a bye this Saturday before traveling out west to face Cal for a Friday night contest on Oct. 17.
