When it was announced that Bill Belichick would become the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, it shocked many people. Belichick had a legendary career in the NFL, primarily as the head coach of the New England Patriots.
He won 333 games in his career, including the postseason, which ranks second all-time. He also secured six Super Bowl titles and nine conference championships, both of which rank first all-time.
Belichick's coaching career began in 1975 as a special assistant for the Baltimore Colts. He gained fame after leading the New York Giants to a Super Bowl victory as their defensive coordinator. Therefore, when he decided to shift to the college ranks after mutually agreeing to part ways with the Patriots in 2023 following two consecutive losing seasons, it surprised many.
While Belichick was appointed as the head coach of North Carolina, Paul Finebaum revealed on "The Paul Finebaum Show" that he doesn't believe the Tar Heels were his first choice.
"I had heard the Belichick to Florida deal," Finebaum said. "I think Florida was his first choice."
Finebaum mentioned that he believes a few coaches would consider moving to Florida if the position opened up. The Gators had just come off three consecutive losing seasons, and it appeared they were heading for a fourth with a record of 4-5 after the first nine games. However, Florida finished the year strong, winning four straight games, allowing head coach Billy Napier to keep his job.
Finebaum jokingly asked if people could imagine Belichick in the SEC. He said he would have liked to see Belichick against Kirby Smart and Georgia, as both are considered "defensive wizards."
Ultimately, the Florida job didn't open. Now Belichick is tasked with rebuilding a North Carolina program that hasn't won 10 or more games since 2015.
Related: David Pollack Reveals If Bill Belichick Can Win the College Football Playoff at North Carolina
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This story was originally published March 9, 2025 at 1:00 PM.