Bill Belichick’s first game-week press conference of the season didn’t last long, but it still gave a clear snapshot of where North Carolina stands heading into Saturday’s opener against TCU in the Aer Lingus Classic in Dublin, Ireland.
Belichick met with reporters for about 12 minutes on Monday in Chapel Hill, and he began by recognizing longtime UNC radio broadcaster and writer/author Lee Pace for his decades of service. Belichick presented him with a football and offered a warm tribute.
From there, the focus turned to football and the unusual opening-week setup. North Carolina already staged a mock game on Saturday, using it to run through the full rhythm of a game day - sudden change situations, offensive-to-defense and defense-to-offense transitions, special teams work, situational units, substitutions, and the rest of the details that can get lost in a normal practice week.
Belichick also took time to size up TCU. He pointed out that the Tar Heels gave up 14 points on turnovers in last year’s meeting, and he praised the Horned Frogs’ kicking game and special teams execution.
He described them as well coached, and he noted the challenge of preparing for a season opener that also includes international travel. On that point, he summed it up simply: "A lot of things that we need to be ready for.
But that's opening day."
Belichick spent a chunk of his comments on TCU quarterback Jaden Craig, the Harvard transfer who was a Walter Payton Award finalist last season and set Crimson passing records. Belichick called Craig "Big athletic, strong arm, can make all the throws… runs well… he gives a lot of leadership to the team."
There was no update on defensive coordinator Steve Belichick. Asked about it, Bill Belichick declined to get into specifics. He also was asked when he last called the defense in a game and whether he still does that while serving as head coach; he said he has, but he would not go further.
Travel to Ireland came up as well, though Belichick brushed aside the idea that it is a major issue. North Carolina is scheduled to arrive in Dublin at about 9:10 Thursday morning local time, which is 4:10 a.m.
EST, after a flight that would leave around 9 p.m. EST and last a little more than seven hours.
Belichick said the trip is not a big deal and compared it to the team’s trip to Cal last season. He would not discuss sleep or related logistics, and the players who spoke afterward did not go into those details either.
Belichick also addressed place kicker Rece Verhoff, who was part of the Colorado class action suit that was stayed by the Tenth Circuit last Friday, making him ineligible. The case is not necessarily finished, though, and there could be other options for Verhoff. Even with his current ineligible status, Belichick said Verhoff is still practicing with the team.
He closed by touching on Billy Edwards’ experience and leadership, the players who were named captains, and the fact that some true freshmen will see the field on Saturday. Their playing time, he said, was "earned on the practice field, nobody's been given anything."
In Other News...
UNC Fans Just Got A Reminder Of Max Johnsons Unfinished Story
Max Johnsons college football journey is still going, and for UNC fans it now has another chapter attached to it. The former Tar Heels quarterback has been named the starter at Georgia Southern as he heads into his seventh collegiate season, a reminder of just how long his career has stretched across LSU, Texas A&M and Chapel Hill.
Johnsons path has been shaped as much by persistence as by the schools on his resume. After suffering a severe leg injury in 2024 and going through multiple surgeries, he was granted an extra year of eligibility and made it back onto the field in 2025, leaving his story open in a way that still invites attention from every stop along the way. [Read more 🡒]
Isaiah Denis Suddenly Has A Real Chance To Matter For UNC
Isaiah Denis looked like one of the more likely Tar Heels to test the transfer market when Hubert Davis was fired, but the returning sophomore guard ended up staying put after conversations with new head coach Michael Malone. That decision keeps Denis in Chapel Hill, where he arrives with limited college playing time behind him but a chance to carve out a more useful role than he had a season ago.
Malone's staff is expected to value depth and defensive versatility, two things that could open the door for Denis if he can earn trust early. For a roster still taking shape under a new coach, even a player who once seemed buried on the depth chart can matter quickly, and Denis now has a real opportunity to become part of the rotation in the months ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Bill Belichick Already Faces Early Pressure In UNC's Dublin Opener
Bill Belichicks first season at North Carolina brought plenty of attention, but not nearly enough wins to quiet the noise around the program. The Tar Heels finished 4-8, and the offseason has not exactly offered a clean reset, with the program still dealing with an HR investigation involving general manager Michael Lombardi, who is currently on administrative leave.
Now the second season begins in Dublin, Ireland, a setting that adds another layer of scrutiny to a team already carrying pressure into the opener. North Carolina is trying to change the conversation right away, but the history of teams who have traveled there has not been encouraging, with several returning home to rough follow-up seasons. For Belichick and the Tar Heels, the first step of Year 2 already feels like more than just a season opener. [Read more 🡒]