Who is Stephen Belichick? A role for Bill Belichick’s son could be included in UNC coaching offer :: WRALSportsFan.com
Chapel Hill, N.C. — Multiple sources told WRAL Sports that the University of North Carolina has offered former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick its football coaching job.
An announcement was not imminent as of Tuesday afternoon, and the UNC Board of Trustees must approve the contract.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Chris Low reported Monday that UNC and Belichick are negotiating “the potential role of his son Stephen Belichick, UNC’s NIL resources, Belichick’s salary and resources for the staff.”
It’s unclear specifically what role Stephen Belichick would have – if any – if UNC hires Bill Belichick.
The younger Belichick spent the 2024 season as Washington’s defensive coordinator.
On Sunday, Washington head coach Jedd Fisch addressed whether he’d expect Stephen Belichick to move after one season if his father were hired at UNC.
“Whatever happens, I’m sure there will be a story every time that coach Belichick’s name gets brought up for any job, whether it’s the North Carolina job or the Chicago Bears job I guess is open, or any other job, and then they’ll ask whether or not his son will join him or stay here,” Fisch told reporters on Sunday.
Stephen Belichick helped improve Washington’s defense.
According to Sports Reference, Washington’s defense allowed 324.8 yards per game in the 2024 season (27th in the country). The year before, Washington allowed 406.7 yards per game (99th in the country).
Stephen Belichick, 37, worked under his father on the Patriots’ staff for years. He was the Patriots’ outside linebackers coach from 2020-23, the defensive backs coach in 2019, the safeties coach from 2016-18 and a defensive assistant from 2012-15.
In July 2020, when the Patriots moved Stephen Belichick from safeties to outside linebackers coach, they promoted his brother, Brian Belichick, to safeties coach. Brian Belichick still serves as the Patriots’ safeties coach.
Stephen Belichick went viral on Oct. 3, 2021, when the Patriots played a Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers team. It marked the first time Brady played his former team. NBC “Sunday Night Football” cameras showed Stephen Belichick on the Patriots’ sidelines sticking his tongue out, wagging it side to side in his mouth, then scrunching his face up in a peculiar grimace.
Stephen Belichick played college lacrosse from 2008-2011 at Rutgers as a defenseman and long-stick midfielder. He also played for the Rutgers football team under coach Greg Schiano in 2011 as a long snapper.
Source: wralsportsfan.com