Bill Belichick was everywhere in media in 2024. But for the 2025 season in his return to the sidelines with the University of North Carolina, it looks like he will be reverting back to his more introverted side.
After leaving the New England Patriots and not receiving any NFL head coaching offers, Belichick turned to the media to try to keep his name alive and maybe even do some image rehab work. He made several appearances ranging from Inside the NFL to the ManningCast to The Pat McAfee Show and much more. Ultimately, his media career was short-lived as he stunned the world by taking a college job at North Carolina.
Since then, Belichick has seen his world turned upside down thanks in large part to his heavily scrutinized relationship with the much younger Jordon Hudson. Following a string of bizarre twists and turns, including a very strange CBS interview about his book interrupted by Hudson, Belichick has largely receded from the spotlight.
According to Reuters, that will continue. Belichick will make only one appearance on the University of North Carolina coach’s show, before the season even begins. After that, it will be up to Belichick’s general manager and unofficial personal spokesperson Michael Lombardi to do the job.
Formerly known as “Mack Brown Live,” the show has been renamed “Carolina Football Live” and will continue to be aired weekly from a restaurant and brewery near the North Carolina campus in Chapel Hill, the university said in a news release.Belichick will take the coach’s seat for the first show of the season, set for Aug. 27 ahead of the season opener against TCU. After that, the show will air on Mondays and look at the Tar Heels’ game the past weekend and the one the weekend ahead.North Carolina general manager Michael Lombardi will be the headliner each week, joined by assistant coaches and players. Belichick will sit alongside Lombardi for the first edition. Jones Angell, the radio play-by-play announcer for the Tar Heels, hosts the one-hour show.
Belichick is not dictated to appear on the coach’s show in his contract like others around the sport. It’s a shame because he can be very engaging when he wants to, especially when it comes to the finer points of football. Who could forget his teaching session on the art of long snapping? And it would give unique insights into his transition from the pro to the college game.
But coach’s shows can be a bit of a minefield at times for college coaches, as entertaining and informative as they may be. Just ask Dabo Swinney. And if things go south for Bill Belichick and North Carolina this season, the last thing he probably wants to do is sit down and do a radio show every week. Apparently, that will be Michael Lombardi’s job. It would have been way more interesting if it was Jordon Hudson, though.
About Matt Yoder