UNC's Lombardi reiterates NFL isn't an option for Belichick

North Carolina general manager Michael Lombardi is trying to shut down speculation that new Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick could return to the NFL.

Belichick and Lombardi both said that the legendary head coach was fully committed to North Carolina after Belichick joined the Tar Heels on Dec. 11 in a stunning move to the college level. However, six main NFL jobs are still available, including one with the Dallas Cowboys, who have been linked to Belichick after parting ways with Mike McCarthy on Jan 13.

Lombardi was responding to a report from CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones noting that Belichick has yet to officially sign his contract with North Carolina, which could lead to a legal dispute regarding the coach's buyout if he leaves for the pros. Belichick's buyout is $10 million if he terminates his deal before June 1 but drops to $1 million after that date.

Belichick did sign a term sheet with North Carolina, according to Jones.

North Carolina has "had coaches coach here for a year before they had an actual contract," a UNC spokesperson told Jones.

"All sources contacted for this story agreed: Should Belichick leave without paying a buyout, a legal dispute of some sort would likely take place for either all or part of the $10 million," Jones wrote.

Belichick, 72, helped the Patriots build the NFL's most dominant dynasty along with Tom Brady, and they won six Super Bowl titles together from 2000-23. Arguably the greatest football coach of all time, Belichick didn't land an NFL job in 2024 after parting ways with New England following the 2023 season.

With 333 career NFL wins, he's only 14 victories behind Don Shula for the most all time, including playoffs.

Lombardi joined North Carolina in December after working as an assistant for Belichick's Patriots from 2014-16.