Patriots Legend Joins Pat McAfee on ESPN for Bill Belichick’s UNC Coaching Debut originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The presence of six-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick has already brought plenty of added attention to the North Carolina Tar Heels football team.

For much of the College Football Playoff era, the ACC has staked its success on conference standard-bearer Clemson. The Tigers won the league again in 2024, claiming their eighth ACC title in the last 10 years and making the CFP for the seventh time.

But Belichick, widely regarded as one of the greatest—if not the greatest—NFL coaches of all time, is already noticing differences between players at the college and pro level. And it goes beyond the obvious age and skill differences that one would assume exist between the levels of football.

The Atlantic Coast Conference has three former NFL head coaches leading its football programs this fall for the most of any league.

"It's a pro program," Belichick said. "Practice, training, food, schemes, terminology, it's all a pro program. Not to the extent that we did it in the NFL — there will be fewer plays, fewer adjustments — but it will be along those lines."

At the 2025 ACC Football Kickoff event at the Hilton Charlotte Uptown on July 24, Bill Belichick made his highly anticipated debut as North Carolina's head coach. Media and fans