North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick’s name has come up as a potential option for NFL teams in 2026.

During the 2025 regular season, Belichick was asked about potentially becoming a candidate for the New York Giants after Brian Daboll was fired. 

Earlier in January, Belichick was asked if he had any interest in taking an NFL job after mass firings on "Black Monday."

Belichick didn't deny interest in becoming a candidate, but said he was happy with where he was at with North Carolina.

“Yeah, nothing's changed," Belichick said on the "Let's Go!" podcast. "Yeah, I'm where I was a month ago. I'm here in North Carolina. I really appreciate the love and support that we've gotten from the community down here, from the school... 

"We're building a good program. I'm excited about the direction we're headed in.”

Then the Buffalo Bills coaching job opened. 

Belichick would appear to be a prime candidate for the Bills, who fired head coach Sean McDermott because he couldn't make a Super Bowl. Belichick has won six Super Bowls as a head coach and made eight appearances with the New England Patriots.

Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Bills are not interested in Belichick this offseason. Florio wrote he's considered as "radioactive" by most league teams searching for a new head coach this year.

"And he has only himself to blame, thanks to the bizarre distractions he created in North Carolina over the past year and his open hostility toward his long-time employer in New England. 

"Any NFL owner who would be inclined to hire Belichick would have to assume that, eventually, some of that same venom will be directed to his next former team."

Belichick's final season with the Patriots came in 2023, when the team finished 4-13. His last playoff win came in 2018, when quarterback Tom Brady was in New England.

The Patriots are in the AFC championship with first-year head coach Mike Vrabel. 

Belichick finished 4-8 in his first season at North Carolina. The Tar Heels roster is expected to be better in 2026 than it was in 2025. 

Belichick's stock could rise if UNC is competitive in the ACC next season.

However, that might not be enough to get him back into the league.