Bill Belichick still holds a special place in the hearts of Giants fans and owner John Mara. They remember the glory days he helped shape under Bill Parcells. Those defenses built two titles for the Blue Crew in the Meadowlands. And the Mara family never forgot the loyalty he showed through those years. So when the head coach seat opened, the idea of Belichick coming home felt real.

It sparked talk across the city that never sleeps. However, Bill Belichick has ended it. He made it clear he is staying with North Carolina football.

“I have great respect and genuinely care for the New York Giants organization and both the Mara and Tisch families. The New York Giants played an important role in my life and in my coaching journey. 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,” he wrote in a statement on social media.

Bill took over the North Carolina Tar Heels at the start of the 2025 season. He locked into a five-year deal worth $50 million. And he wants the Carolina community to know he is all in. He is focused on building something steady in the home of the Tar Heel blue.

“Since arriving in Chapel Hill, my commitment to the UNC Football program has not waivered. We have tremendous support from the university, our alumni, and the entire Carolina community. My focus remains solely on continuing to improve this team, develop our players, and build a program that makes Tar Heel fans proud.”

That message left zero space for doubt. However, you can see why Giants fans kept pushing the idea. The locker room wants a leader who sets the tone, keeps things tight, and blocks out the New York noise. And Bill Belichick has built that kind of culture for decades. His style fits what the Giants are craving.

And his history with John Mara and the family only made the rumors louder. Still, he is staying in Carolina. And as he put it, “We’re on to Wake Forest.”

John Mara got blamed for the Giants’ situation

Brian Daboll was the second coach fired this season. Now the Giants sit at a rough 2-8. And the fanbase is pointing straight at the front office. Even former Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe called out the situation on his Nightcap podcast.

“Brian, don’t coach the team. He ain’t got no say; he probably didn’t have any say over the final 53. He probably had no say in free agency; he probably had no say in the draft.”

His point was simple. Daboll never controlled the key decisions. After that, Sharpe pushed the conversation toward Sean Payton, the rumored name floating around the Giants community.

“You actually think Sean Payton’s gonna come in there and the only thing he’s gonna be is a coach? He ain’t gonna have no say over the final 53; he’s not gonna have any say over the draft. He’s not going to have any say [in] free agency; he’s just going to stand there and coach. And then when things go wrong, they’re going to blame him just like all the coaches he [John Mara] fired.”

And the numbers backed up the criticism. In the last nine years, John Mara has already moved on from five coaches. From Ben McAdoo to Pat Shurmur to Joe Judge and now Brian Daboll, nobody lasted long. And now the team handed the reins to offensive coordinator Mike Kafka while also shifting play-calling duties.

So the question in the city that never sleeps is simple. Who will John Mara pick to run the Giants next?