Former Patriot Sets Lofty Expectation For Bill Belichick, North Carolina

Bill Belichick already built one program from the ground up in his dynastic run with the New England Patriots. He’ll try to do it at the college level when he leads the North Carolina Tar Heels starting next season.

Jason McCourty won a Super Bowl under Belichick with the Patriots during the 2018 season. The Rutgers product and former NFL defensive back played to that experience when he made a lofty prediction for Belichick’s first season with the Tar Heels.

“I want something special to happen in 2025,” McCourty shared on ESPN’s “First Take” Wednesday. “Bill Belichick will lead UNC to the College Football Playoff. Yes, that is on his Christmas list that he is asking Santa that you saw him post on social media. … Bill Belichick. Playoffs. Those words just go together.”

North Carolina went 6-6 during the regular season in 2024 before a Fenway Bowl loss to the UConn Huskies at Fenway Park in Boston on Dec. 28 under interim head coach Freddie Kitchens.

Belichick formally takes over for Mack Brown, who exited after a loss to Boston College in November.