UNC heads into its home opener Saturday against East Tennessee State still without a clear answer on when Steve Belichick might be back.
More than a month after he was placed on medical leave, the Tar Heels have offered no timetable for the defensive coordinator’s return. Bill Belichick said Monday that his son is “still on medical leave” and would not go any further, leaving a key piece of the program’s structure in limbo as the season moves forward.
Steve Belichick has not been around the program since at least Aug. 6, when Bill Belichick announced the move as the second week of preseason practice got underway. At that time, he said, "We look forward to getting him back as soon as possible," Bill Belichick said at the time. "It's a medical situation, so I really can't make any further comment."
Since then, the details have stayed scarce. University and program officials still describe the situation as medical leave, but they have not said whether Steve Belichick will return this season. That uncertainty comes at a tricky moment for UNC, especially after general manager Michael Lombardi resigned last week.
The questions around the program extend beyond the sideline. UNC has brought in outside lawyers to speak with football players, staff and parents as part of an ongoing investigation. According to people familiar with the matter who spoke to WRAL, those lawyers are asking whether Steve Belichick used drugs at university facilities and whether he gave drugs to at least one player.
Those same people said investigators are also looking into whether at least one member of UNC’s recruiting staff had a sexual relationship with at least one player, and whether similar relationships may have existed between members of the recruiting staff and assistant coaches. They also said the inquiry has touched on the culture of the team under Bill Belichick, who was hired in December 2024 to raise the profile of the program.
On Monday, Bill Belichick said he understood “the importance of the work that's being done by the investigative team and, obviously, our high standard here of our code of conduct and doing things the right way and making sure that our student-athletes are given the utmost, the best treatment, the very best care, and the very best coaching that we can possibly give them. So that's critically important to us.”
On the field, UNC found enough defense to survive TCU in its season opener in Ireland, even without Steve Belichick calling the shots. The Tar Heels held on for a 15-10 win and delivered two huge fourth-down stops in the second half.
That was a sharp turnaround from the 2025 opener, when the defense gave up 48 points to the Horned Frogs. After TCU scored on its first two possessions and went up 10-3, it did not score again.
Bill Belichick said the defensive staff would handle the workload together while Steve Belichick is away. Brian Belichick, another of his sons, coaches the safeties and defensive backs.
Asked by WRAL's Pat Welter about the possibility of naming an interim defensive coordinator or general manager, Bill Belichick smiled and said, "I'm sure you'll be the first to know."
He was just as guarded when asked again about Steve Belichick’s absence. "I love all my kids. I'm not going to comment on a medical situation," Bill Belichick said.
UNC now turns toward a stretch that could quickly shape the early season. The Tar Heels are 1-0 and host East Tennessee State at noon Saturday.
ACC play begins Sept. 19 at Clemson, and No. 4 Notre Dame comes to Chapel Hill on Oct.
- A win this weekend would put UNC at 2-0 before conference play starts.
Steve Belichick came to UNC after serving as Washington’s defensive coordinator in 2024. Before that, he spent several seasons in defensive roles under his father with the New England Patriots. Last season, the Tar Heels’ defense was one of the program’s few steady areas, finishing No. 38 nationally in total defense and No. 25 in yards allowed per play.
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For UNC, the timing only sharpens the challenge. The Tar Heels open conference play against Clemson on Sept. 19, and there is very little room for error after a chaotic week that has put the program under a brighter spotlight than it wanted. How they handle the next stretch will matter not just for the standings, but for how quickly this season can shift back toward football instead of the noise around it. [Read more 🡒]