Despite denying rumors of an exit strategy, tensions continue to surround Bill Belichick’s tenure at UNC. Following a rocky debut and a stretch that seems to have unraveled his NFL legacy, the program is urging patience. After all, six weeks isn’t a fair sample size. And there’s still time to turn around their 2-4 start.

That’s hardly the only issue, though. Months since Belichick and UNC set out to shape a ’33rd NFL franchise’ in Chapel Hill, the HC has consistently lost his grip. A divided locker room, a disorganized coaching staff, and a poorly constructed roster have said enough. While both Belichick and the program deny any rift in their relationship, more than a few know that many adjustments are needed if winning is the goal.

And under any circumstances, if the coach decides to make an exit, ‘Hard Rock Bet’ suggests Billy Napier as a replacement.

On October 18, Florida’s Only Legal Sportsbook shared its top five landing spots for the former Gators’ head coach, and UNC topped the list:

1. North Carolina
2. Nebraska
3. UCLA
4. UAB
5. PUBLIX

After going 22-23 in four seasons in Florida, failing to maintain consistency, it is no secret that the coach’s stint was extremely underwhelming. But he has one skill that might have just been the root cause of all of Belichick’s problems.

After announcing their intention to build an ‘excellent college football program’ last December, Belichick and general manager Michael Lombardi spent the offseason recruiting all the talent they could get their hands on. Quite literally. They brought in more than 70 fresh faces; some of them in intense transfer portal battles.

Earlier this month, it had one of the Group of 5 coaches saying: “What I think they miscalculated is with the way they were taking (players) in the portal and paying dudes… When I keep running up against the same P4s over and over again in recruiting, I’m like, all right, they’re gonna suck.”

Despite the size of the class, the talent fell short in the very first game that saw the likes of Michael Jordan on the sidelines. In the 48-14 loss to TCU, the team couldn’t tackle or run the ball, and turned it over three times. Those 48 points were the most any of Belichick’s teams had ever conceded. They gave up 542 yards.

So, it did not take a pundit to point out that it all went wrong with the talent acquisition. That’s where the former Gators coach, who is owed $21 million in buyout, comes in.

During his tenure in Florida, Napier filled the recruiting gaps that his predecessor left behind. He signed two classes that ranked in the top 10 (SEC) in the last two years, while the 2025 roster ranked 12th in 247Sports’ Team Talent Composite. The coach has made it clear time and again that talent acquisition is his priority, and maybe the Tar Heels could use that.

With UNC cornerbacks coach Armond Hawkins being suspended, reports of coaching staff preparing to leave, and angry parents faulting the leadership, the clock seems to be running out for Belichick. Moreover, where communication issues pile up for the 6x Super Bowl-winning coach, players piled into the Heavener Football Center to bid an emotional goodbye to Napier.

Maybe patience is what UNC needs for vintage Belichick to come alive, or maybe college football isn’t the right fit.

Bill Belichick was subjected to mockery…

Fans were tired of the Tar Heels’ poor play and the controversies surrounding the team. Bill Belichick’s big-name hire has not turned into wins, and fans made sure everyone knew how unhappy they were.

One of the bigger problems with Belichick is the unnecessary drama he brings to the program. During the game at California’s Memorial Stadium, he was continuously trolled. The scoreboard flashed mocking messages aimed at the coach and his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson.

Cal fans and the Bears’ graphics team went all out. They poked some fun at athletic director Bubba Cunningham’s comment that said Belichick had “full support” of the program.

Even Cal’s mascot, Oski, got in on it, joking about being “fully committed to Cal Athletics.” The scoreboard also put on some silly graphics referencing Belichick’s personal website, with misspelled words and phrases like “graphic design is my passion”. It was all to poke fun.

But it was another indication of the tense situation Belichick is under as UNC struggles.