The once-unshakable mystique is suddenly starting to fade. When Bill Belichick took the reins at UNC in 2024 after 24 years with the Patriots, fans dreamed big. Some even dubbed the program the “33rd NFL team.” But reality hit hard in his first season. Despite his legendary defensive mind, the Tar Heels are floundering with a 2-5 record, anchored at the bottom of the ACC.

With that, the aura of “one of the greatest coaches in NFL history” is facing its toughest test.

On Wednesday, Joel Klatt broke down the coaching landscape during his show, noting that NFL success doesn’t always translate to college. While Belichick’s struggles at UNC may have several reasons, Klatt highlighted a bigger picture that even calls into question the UNC HC’s Patriots’ legacy.

“There’s two things specifically that are different at the college level that are not an option at the NFL level,” explained Klatt. “Number one, you can impact these kids’ lives to a greater degree. You can influence them. And if that’s something that drives you and you’re passionate about, college is the place for you,” he added. “The next thing is, in college, you are at the corner.”

In short, a college HC takes most of the fame and heat, but in the NFL, that’s not the case.

“Bill Belichick is revered and considered one of the great coaches in NFL history, and yet, when we talk about the Patriots’ dynasty, the first name that comes up is Tom Brady,” said Klatt.

Brady spent 20 seasons under Belichick, from 2000 to 2019, and together they won six Super Bowl titles. But for many, the spotlight shines brighter on Brady than on Belichick. Still, CFB is different. Nick Saban doesn’t share the limelight, as he is the Alabama dynasty.

“When you think of Nick Saban’s run at Alabama, he is revered as the greatest coach in the history of college football. Who do you think of first when I say Alabama, Nick Saban?” asked Klatt.

While CFB and the NFL are two very different worlds, no one feels that more than Belichick. Even without Brady under center, he kept the Patriots’ defense elite. He took struggling units and turned them into top-ranked squads, adding key pieces like Matthew Judon and developing under-the-radar talent into playmakers.

While Belichick showed it’s about crafting a system that maximizes every player’s potential, that brilliance didn’t translate to college. At UNC, Belichick’s NFL-style control clashed with the college game’s structure, and his UNC experiment revealed that even the greatest NFL coach can struggle when the system doesn’t fit. So, was Belichick’s success built on Brady?

Sure, Brady was a rare QB you can’t easily replace, but Belichick’s genius amplified his talents. While Brady carried the offense for nearly two decades, Belichick’s fingerprints were all over the Patriots’ dynasty. Without Brady, the Patriots went 11-5 in 2008 and navigated suspensions and injuries in 2016, proving Belichick could still get results. Though the 20-year partnership was unprecedented and Brady often stole the headlines, the dynasty wouldn’t have existed without Belichick orchestrating it behind the scenes.

Now, while his struggles with the Tar Heels were mounting, the HC stepped in to defend himself.

Bill Belichick’s defensive style

Bill Belichick isn’t taking rumors lying down. The UNC HC, whose Tar Heels have stumbled, leaned on a famous Trump line to dismiss a recent report questioning his future. “Whoever that story came from, it’s already been taken down… It’s just total, as Trump would say, fake news. It’s just a novel,” stated Belichick, making it clear he’s focused on the field, not the headlines.

Although UNC has suffered multiple blowouts and 4 straight losses, sparking whispers of a “potential exit strategy.” Even reports suggested his $20M buyout might be in play, possibly influenced by an alleged rules violation. But both Belichick and AD Bill Cunningham quickly shot down the speculation.

“I’m fully committed to UNC football and the program we’re building here,” said Belichick. And Cunningham echoed the sentiment, stating, “Coach Belichick has the full support of the Department of Athletics and university.” Here, Bill Belichick remains unshaken, and he’s used to rumors, brushing them off with a mix of humor.

“I’m sure there’s a lot of other people that want to get clicks and views… It’s just a bunch of garbage,” he added. So for now, despite struggles on the scoreboard, the legendary coach is here to stay.