Bill Belichick came to North Carolina wanting to take a step in the right direction. After getting fired by the New England Patriots, the reconstruction of his image has been key.
Now going into the second season of his UNC tenure, there are more distractions on his plate, and another one has come to the surface.
Before joining the Tar Heels, Belichick reportedly employed a crew to work on his home in July 2024. One painter has sued the NFL coaching great for injuries suffered while on his Nantucket property.
According to the Daily Mail, handyman Andrew Jackson says Belichick improperly maintained plastic sheeting or coverings to protect the floor and furniture, which created a “dangerous and unsafe” work environment. This led to Jackson suffering a severe ankle injury.
The lawsuit alleges nearly $300,000 in damages, including pain, suffering, disability, lost wages and medical expenses.
“(Belichick) owed (Jackson) a duty to use reasonable care to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition, to inspect for hazards, to warn of dangers of which it knew or should have known, and to coordinate the site in a reasonably safe manner for lawful workers present there.”
Belichick signed a five-year, $50 million contract with North Carolina in January of last year, with the first three years fully guaranteed. The contract structure includes a base salary of $10 million per year, with performance-based incentives up to $1.75 million.
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If Belichick went back to the NFL, he would owe a $1 million buyout. However, he is required to notify the UNC athletic director, Bubba Cunningham, before speaking to any NFL team, per the terms of his deal.
The Tar Heels finished 4-8 during Belichick's first collegiate season. After becoming one of the NFL's winningest coaches with a 333-178 record, he fell short of becoming a first-ballot Hall-of-Famer this year.
Belichick shakes off the rejection and looks to build on what he started in Chapel Hill ahead of the 2026 season.
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