"The best coach that this NFL has ever seen": 7X Super Bowl champ Tom Brady gives Bill Belichick his flowers for huge UNC move
Tom Brady had nothing but good things to say about Bill Belichick's move to the North Carolina Tar Heels. During the Steelers vs. Eagles broadcast, the former quarterback and now Fox analyst shared his thoughts on his former coach heading to college football.
"They're getting, obviously, a tremendous coach. Those guys are going to play very hard. He's going to coach them well. It's a great benefit for all those players that are going to that program because they're getting the best coach that the NFL has ever seen."
Brady also mentioned he was "blown away" by the move, as he was expecting Belichick to get another NFL opportunity.
Bill Belichick coached in the NFL for nearly 50 years, but has never coached at the college level. Now, he is taking over for Mack Brown as the Tar Heels coach.
Brady and Belichick were uniquely successful in the NFL
When they were together with the New England Patriots, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick formed the best partnership the NFL has ever seen. With nine AFC championships and six Super Bowl wins, the Patriots were a dominant force in the NFL. No other quarterback-head coach tandem has more than four Lombardis.
After Brady left following the 2019 season, there were rumors of a rift between the quarterback and the head coach. While Brady won another Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Belichick and the Patriots couldn't find a proper replacement at quarterback and only made the playoffs once after the breakup.
Belichick left New England following the 2023 season but after getting little interest from the NFL, he took 2024 off before signing with North Carolina last week. He is the winningest coach in the postseason with 31 victories and second in all-time wins with 333.
Brady retired following the 2022 season. He signed a lucrative deal to broadcast games on Fox and is a part owner of the Las Vegas Raiders. He is expected to play a role in personnel decisions in Las Vegas, such as possibly drafting a quarterback in 2025.
Belichick's effect is already showing in Chapel Hill
It's been less than a week since Belichick joined the Tar Heels, but he has already had an effect on the 2025 season. Bryce Baker, a 4-star quarterback from Kernersville, North Carolina, confirmed his commitment to North Carolina after speaking to the new coach. Baker said Belichick's presence played a role in his decision.
Defensive lineman Austin Alexander, another 4-star prospect, also spoke with Belichick over the weekend.
With the Tar Heels' 2025 recruiting class ranked last in the ACC, Belichick will look to attract some talent to UNC. The Tar Heels could get a jump on the transfer portal thanks to the head coach's experience in the NFL.