Bill Belichick emphatically stated Friday night he will not pursue any current NFL head coaching vacancies, reaffirming his commitment to the University of North Carolina football program. The 73-year-old, who previously led the new england Patriots to six Super Bowl victories, addressed circulating rumors in a statement posted to social media.
Belichick’s declaration comes amid a flurry of NFL coaching changes, most recently the New York Giants’ firing of Brian Daboll earlier this week. This news closes the door on speculation linking the legendary coach to several open positions and underscores his dedication to building a competitive program at UNC,a new chapter for the historically NFL-focused Belichick.
“Since arriving in Chapel Hill, my commitment to the UNC football program hasn’t (wavered),” Belichick said in the statement. He specifically addressed his past with the Giants, stating, “It was a privilege for me to work for the Mara family and be a member of Coach Parcells’ staff for over a decade.However, despite circulating rumors, I have not and will not pursue any NFL head coaching vacancies.”
Belichick had previously dismissed coaching rumors on Tuesday following Daboll’s dismissal. His UNC Tar Heels currently hold a 4-5 record (2-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference) and have won their last two games,showing improvement on defense with increased sack production.
UNC is scheduled to visit Wake Forest on Saturday, beginning a stretch of three consecutive games against in-state ACC opponents to conclude the regular season. “My focus remains solely on continuing to improve this team, develop our players and build a program that makes Tar Heel fans proud,” Belichick concluded. “We’re on to Wake Forest.”
