UNC failed to justify last season’s spending on flashy celebrations. Bill Belichick’s first collegiate chapter with UNC didn’t come cheap, and even with that, there were huge expectations. But the Tar Heels didn’t transform their expectations into on-field success. Still, among CFB’s biggest spenders, UNC ranks second in fireworks spending.

On Monday, CFB Kings shared Greg Chick-designed FOIABall’s public record requests report on X, which featured UNC spending $148K on fireworks during the 2025 season. Although they are not the highlight of that particular chart. Despite this ridiculous number, it pales in comparison to first-place Rutgers, who spent $191K. That is about $43,000 less than UNC. But looking good when compared to Rutgers doesn’t amount to much when you have a Hall of Fame head coach leading your program.

That huge spending by the Tar Heels on fireworks became even more worthless because Belichick’s debut season ended with a 4–8 record. While their on-field performance in 2025 under Belichick’s leadership didn’t match the hype or investment, the coach joined the Tar Heels this past season following the firing of Mack Brown with a five-year contract worth a total of $50 million to build a pro-style culture that mirrors NFL standards.

In fact, UNC’s general manager, Michael Lombardi, once said the vision was to create something like a “33rd NFL team” within the college ranks. Bill Belichick’s 2025 coaching staff at UNC was heavily reinforced with NFL experience. He brought in talents like former Cleveland head coach Freddie Kitchens as OC, former Patriots assistant Steve Belichick as DC and LBs coach, and Mike Priefer, who brings over 20 years of NFL experience, as special teams coordinator.

Despite that, his team struggled primarily against Power Four competition. Last season, the Tar Heels lost the season opener against TCU, 14-48. Then they lost against Clemson, Virginia, and California, with their only wins coming against Charlotte, Syracuse, Stanford, and Richmond (FCS). Yet the first lackluster season in CFB doesn’t prove that Bill Belichick has a lack of potential.

During his 24-season tenure with the Patriots as both head coach and de facto general manager, Belichick architected a dynasty that won 6 Super Bowls and 9 conference championships with 31 postseason wins. With this kind of talent on display, he earned AP NFL Coach of the Year three times. Still, his NFL nuances might not work out for the Tar Heels.

Despite a challenging 4-8 inaugural season in 2025, Belichick and general manager Michael Lombardi have successfully leveraged their NFL pedigree to secure a massive 39-player signing class. This group is widely regarded as a top-20 haul nationally.

The class is headlined by four-star quarterback Travis Burgess, a 6-foot-4 dual-threat prospect from Georgia who is viewed as the potential future face of the offense. Defensively, the Tar Heels have made significant progress by flipping several elite prospects from other top contenders.

Notable additions include defensive tackle Vodney Cleveland (a former Texas commit), safety Jakob Weatherspoon (formerly committed to Ohio State), and 350-pound interior lineman Trashawn Ruffin, who flipped from Texas A&M.

So it is clear that the program still has trust in him, so he gets another chance to lead UNC in 2026. Even this time, the coach brings in staff with NFL and CFB experience.

Bill Belichick’s numberless approach to practice

This time, Bill Belichick stepped onto UNC’s spring practice field with a familiar trademark. In a move that felt straight out of his New England Patriots playbook, the head coach had players practicing in jerseys without numbers. He is using red jerseys for QBs, blue for offense, and white for defense, all without numbers.

It’s a subtle but striking twist that instantly caught attention in Chapel Hill. In a sport where identity is stitched onto every jersey, Belichick flipped the script. This wasn’t about secrecy or theatrics. By removing numbers, Bill Belichick forced players to communicate, think, and react with precision.

The primary goal of this move is to strip away individual acclaim, thereby forcing players to earn their “identity” (their number) through performance and accountability during spring training camp. The practice has evolved through several key coaching trees. Steelers HC Mike McCarthy and Bill Belichick both cite Steelers legend Chuck Noll as an early proponent who had his NFL teams practice without numbers in the 1970s and 80s.

Matt Rhule popularized a variation where single-digit numbers (0-9) are removed from the roster and must be “earned”. Only the “toughest” and most dependable players, voted on by teammates, are allowed to wear these prestigious digits.

But beyond the psychological aspect, there is also a tactical edge to this move. It makes it difficult for media or opposing scouts to identify specific players during open practice sessions or leaked film. It also forces coaches and personnel staff to know their players by more than just a number on a spreadsheet.

Belichick himself famously used numberless jerseys with the New England Patriots for years during offseason programs like OTAs and minicamps. The NFL eventually banned the practice in 2016, requiring numbers so the league and NFLPA could better monitor player participation.

Yet, one can argue that his debut season with the Tar Heels was a significant disappointment, with his NFL-style approach. Now, whether this removal of numbers works out or not for 2026 success, only time can tell. But inside the program, the message hasn’t wavered.

“All during those stormy times, all during when the boat was getting capsized, when people were attacking us with fake rumors and fake stories all over, nobody’s corrected them yet, but that’s OK, we understand, our players hung together,” said Lombardi.

Now, with spring practices setting the tone, Bill Belichick is doubling down on the little things.