Bill Belichick’s Disastrous UNC Season & Patriots’ Sudden Surge Lead To Re-evaluation Of His Sterling Reputation

Bill Belichick’s move from the NFL to college football has not been what he or North Carolina had anticipated. Since his start in September, it has been a disaster. Expectations were sky-high that the eight-time Super Bowl winner was going to reshape the program. But only five games into the 2025 season, the Tar Heels are 2-3 and have suffered multiple blowout losses. The excitement of his arrival, along with his high-profile staff, has quickly faded.

While Belichick struggled to compete in his new position. His old world in the NFL has flourished. His old team, the New England Patriots, is 3-2 under Mike Vrabel. This put them in 2nd, challenging the Buffalo Bills for the AFC East. Alongside the Patriots, ex-players like Mac Jones and Tyquan Thornton are thriving with other teams. This, along with Belichick’s season at UNC, makes him consider what the future of his career will look like.

The success of Vrabel at the Patriots has sparked comparisons to Belichick’s era. Both took different approaches to New England’s playing style. Vrabel’s team may not have the same star power as Belichick’s dynasty team had, but they had embraced a grittier, more balanced identity. Vrabel is known for having a dynamic, charismatic personality, unlike Belichick. Vrabel’s tactics seem to have a strong emphasis on offense, while Belichick emphasized defense.

Belichick’s struggle at North Carolina also raises questions about whether his coaching style can still compete in today’s game. The 73-year-old coaches an old-school approach, which used to rein in domination in the NFL, seemed out of place for the Tar Heels. For a coach who once seemed untouchable, this season has served as a humbling reminder that even legends must evolve.

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Article by Ed Middlecoff