The question was inevitable. Someone was bound to get the opinion of Bill Belichick, the University of North Carolina head football coach, about whether he could go home again and take over the New York Giants who are looking for a new head coach. Belichick is focused on Wake Forest and not the NFL.
During a press conference on Tuesday in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Tar Heels coach Bill Belichick addressed his interest in returning to East Rutherford to take over the New York Giants, who just so happen to be looking for a new coach since Brian Daboll was fired Monday.
Belichick was not interested in discussing the gig, nor was he interested in discussing anything but the Tar Heels next opponent.
“Getting ready for Wake Forest, that’s all I got this week,” Belichick said. “I’ve been asked about [an NFL return] from time to time. Look, I’ve been down this road before. I’m focused on Wake Forest, that’s it. That’s my commitment to this team. Next week it’ll be to our next opponent and so forth. I’m here to do the best I can for this team.”
He signed a lucrative contract with the University of North Carolina and has a strong buyout clause, which diminishes after the season. However, he also brought his sons and other NFL buddies over to UNC with him and they would be affected by any move that Belichick might consider making. For example, former player personnel director Michael Lombardi gave up NFL opportunities to come to UNC to work with his friend.
Belichick would go on to win oodles of Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, before going to the college ranks and take over the program at North Carolina. When he left New England he interviewed for various NFL jobs, but was was shut out during the cycle.
The six-time Super Bowl champion head coach has not set the world on fire at North Carolina. He is 4-5 overall and is 2-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The Giants are looking for a head coach to take over for Daboll who was relieved of his duties Monday after Big Blue blew a double-digit lead to the Chicago Bears. It was the fourth time this season that the Giants had such a lead before ultimately losing the game.