Despite rumors of a potential NFL return for Bill Belichick, the Super Bowl-winning coach has maintained his intention to return for a second season with North Carolina.
Now, with several NFL coaching positions opening on what’s known as Black Monday, Belichick has doubled down on the Tar Heels by reportedly luring former Wisconsin quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. to Chapel Hill.
A highly recruited passer out of high school, the Virginia native arrived at Wisconsin in August as a transfer from Maryland but suffered a knee injury and was ultimately ruled out for the remainder of the Badgers’ season. He has since been granted a medical redshirt, allowing him to play a sixth season of college football and compete for the Tar Heels’ starting job with returning starter Gio Lopez.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Edwards’ decision to join North Carolina, where he will play for two former NFL coaches in Belichick and recently hired offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino.
Edwards’ transfer is significant for a Tar Heels team that finished 4-8 in 2025 as Belichick’s 24-year-old girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, dominated headlines. But beyond the importance of adding a quarterback, Edwards’ arrival gives a strong signal to recruits, coaches and Tar Heels fans that Belichick is focused on spending 2026 in Chapel Hill.
And it’s particularly meaningful on Black Monday, with several NFL teams launching coaching searches, including a few with connections to Belichick.
Head coach Bill Belichick of the North Carolina Tar Heels and Jordon Hudson look on prior to the game against the Richmond Spiders at Kenan Memorial Stadium on September 13
Billy Edwards Jr. arrived at Wisconsin in August as a transfer from Maryland but suffered a knee injury and was ultimately ruled out for the remainder of the Badgers’ season
He previously coached in Cleveland, where the Browns are now looking for a replacement for the fired Kevin Stefanski. And in 2024, Belichick was rumored to be among the candidates to become head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, who fired both Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot on Sunday night.
Meanwhile the Tennessee Titans’ coaching search is already well underway with the team interviewing Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy for the vacancy, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
And of course, there is always the Raiders, where his former quarterback, Tom Brady, was involved with the decision to fire head coach Pete Carroll on Monday.
The Daily Mail was previously told that the 73-year-old is ‘committed’ to another year in Chapel Hill ‘to right the ship.’ In other words: He is not eyeing a return to the NFL.
But that won’t stop rumors about potential return from circulating.
Former Falcons head coach Bobby Petrino is now North Carolina’s offensive coordinator
Overall, no one has won more than Belichick’s eight Super Bowls, including a record six as head coach of the Patriots. He spent 24 seasons in that role and, alongside Brady, built a dynasty that ruled the NFL in the early 21st century.
However, those Vince Lombardi Trophies seem like relics of another age following his recent decision to coach the Tar Heels on a five-year, $50 million deal.
Not only did North Carolina finish 4-8, but the Tar Heels managed to beat just two teams from a Power 4 conference: ACC rivals Syracuse and Stanford.
Meanwhile, Hudson has faced critical media coverage and is now engaged in a public spat with podcaster Pablo Torre, whom she has threatened to sue over his reporting.
Then there was the couple’s infamous CBS interview, when Hudson shot down questions about the mysterious beginning of their relationship. Later TMZ reported Hudson stormed out of the interview, delaying the shooting for 30 minutes.
Now Belichick will continue wading through the transfer portal and reaching out to high-school recruits ahead of North Carolina’s annual spring game on April 12 at Kenan Stadium.
