Bill Belichick shocked the football world when, in December 2024, he became the head football coach at the University of North Carolina. Arguably the greatest NFL head coach of all time, he had decided to try his hand at coaching in college for the first time in his career.
The move left fans and analysts scratching their heads. Nobody could understand why, at 72, he would want to dive into college recruiting, and many assumed it was a way for him to coach for a year before returning to the NFL.
The question then becomes: Which team will be the one to welcome Belichick back to the NFL?
If the Miami Dolphins move on from Mike McDaniel, the franchise likely won’t want to take as big a risk with its next hire. McDaniel excelled as the offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers in 2021 and was known for being quirky. That allure quickly faded as the team’s results soured.
If Miami is in the market for a new head coach, it will likely seek someone with a proven NFL track record and possibly someone the Dolphins are familiar with facing.
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Here's why the Dolphins should attempt to bring in Belichick.
6 reasons why Dolphins should hire Bill Belichick
1. Belichick has more Super Bowl wins as a head coach than Miami does as a franchise
Winning is everything in the NFL, and if McDaniel gets the ax, it will be because he couldn’t find a way past the Buffalo Bills or make a deep playoff run.
Belichick had the benefit of the greatest quarterback of all time, Tom Brady, but he still earned six Super Bowl rings during his dynasty with the New England Patriots. The Dolphins organization, by comparison, has just two Super Bowls in its entire history.
2. Belichick has more wins than the Dolphins since 1991
Belichick has 302 regular-season wins, 333 including the postseason, with both numbers ranking second all-time.
Belichick became a head coach in 1991 when he was with the Cleveland Browns. He was at the helm for four years and then took the Patriots gig in 2000. He amassed 302 wins in 28 years coaching. In the 34 years since Belichick first became a head coach in the NFL, the Dolphins have 268 wins as a franchise.
3. He is likely motivated to get back to the NFL
Since being hired at North Carolina, Belichick has turned 73. He filled out his coaching staff with his son serving as defensive coordinator, and many believe he is the coach in waiting for the position.
Belichick likely doesn’t have the stamina for recruiting in today’s college football landscape. Sure, he can flaunt his Super Bowl rings on trips, but he only became familiar with the transfer portal and NIL rules when he arrived at UNC. Belichick brought in more than 30 transfers to play for the Tar Heels, and the experiment has produced mixed results/
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4. Belichick can reset the culture around the team
McDaniel has been seen as a quirky character. He has a lackadaisical style about him, whether it is on the sidelines during games or during press conferences. Many would argue that this personality trait is why the team is perceived as undisciplined. Bringing in Belichick would likely have him institute more professionalism around the organization, getting back to the tight ship that he ran in New England.
5. The Dolphins are gunning for a rebuild that will likely take time, Belichick can help build the foundation
Miami is in a tough spot. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa doesn’t look like the long-term answer, and he is only in the second year of the massive four-year, $212.4 million extension he received. Star wide receiver Tyreek Hill constantly wants out, and the franchise wasn’t able to capitalize on its win-now window.
If the Dolphins are indeed heading for a rebuild, they need a solid foundation. Belichick could step in for a few years, right the ship, and get the team back on track before handing the reins to a younger coach with the same mentality but the youth to take the franchise to the next stage. Belichick may be seen as a band-aid, but he would give Miami time to avoid rushing a coaching search and prevent the team from hiring the latest hot coordinator, reducing the risk of repeating the McDaniel experience.
6. Belichick seems built on pettiness, and beating the Patriots twice a year fulfills that
Belichick had a very public falling out with the Patriots. New England wanted to go in a different direction, went into full rebuild mode, and parted ways with the future Hall of Fame coach. While Belichick wasn’t able to land an NFL gig for 2024, he became an analyst, which eventually led to his role at UNC.
While with the Tar Heels, Belichick has banned scouts from the Patriots. In an ultimately petty move, he said, "I'm not welcome there, so they aren't welcome here." What better way for Belichick to get back at the organization he despises than by facing them twice a year with a chance to beat them?
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Bill Belichick UNC contract buyout
Belichick's contract buyout was a large discussion point when his contract details were released. His buyout came in two tiers, with the first being $10 million before June 1, 2025. If that date is surprising, that's because it was. Belichick was hired on December 11, 2024, so the initially buyout date was thought of by fans as put in to ensure that he didn't leave the school before the season even began to take an NFL head coaching gig.
The problem with the buyout is that on June 1, 2025, it plummeted to just $1 million. The North Carolina head coach is making $10 million a year, so if he chose to leave the program any time after June 1, before the contract was finished he would owe just $1 million. This stipulation convinced many that he would be at UNC for one year, make $9 million and then go back to the NFL.