North Carolina’s season opener is almost here, and one of the biggest questions hanging over the Tar Heels is whether Steve Belichick will be on the sideline Saturday against TCU in Dublin, Ireland.
That uncertainty remains after Bill Belichick offered only a vague update on Tuesday. Steve Belichick, North Carolina’s defensive coordinator, has been away from the team for nearly a month and has been on medical leave since early in training camp. Bill Belichick said the same thing weeks ago, and there still isn’t a clear timetable for his return.
That leaves North Carolina heading into a game week with more questions than answers. The Tar Heels are already under pressure after a disastrous 2025 season, and the situation around the program has only grown more complicated with general manager Michael Lombardi on paid administrative leave just weeks before kickoff.
There’s no indication this is expected to become a season-long issue, but the lack of clarity is hard to ignore. North Carolina needs every part of its operation aligned to start the year, and right now that’s not guaranteed.
Belichick’s health is the most important part of all this, and that has to come first. Still, from a football standpoint, the Tar Heels may have to adjust quickly this weekend if Steve Belichick isn’t available. Based on Bill Belichick’s comments, that possibility looks real.
If he is out, North Carolina would be trying to beat a TCU team that beat it 48-14, though the Tar Heels’ roster is now much different and improved. Even so, they may need to prepare for the opener without their defensive coordinator, and perhaps beyond Saturday as well.
In Other News...
UNC Quarterback Battle Is Raising Awkward Questions About Michael Lombardi
Bill Belichick used his coach show to address the quarterback competition, and the picture he painted was already telling. Miles ONeill and Billy Edwards were named as the primary contenders to open the season, while Travis Burgess was singled out for his progress, a sign that the depth chart is starting to take shape as UNC sorts out the most important position on the field.
What stood out just as much was who was not part of the conversation. AuTori Newkirk, a quarterback recruited by GM Michael Lombardi, was not mentioned and has slipped to fourth string behind the newer additions, a development that only adds to the scrutiny around Lombardis evaluation of the position. With Gio Lopez and Ryan Browne also part of the broader quarterback picture, the issue has become less about sheer numbers and more about whether UNCs decision-making at the spot has helped or hurt the program. [Read more 🡒]
UNC Defense Has One Chance To Answer Last Year's TCU Humbling
Last seasons Week 1 loss to TCU still hangs over North Carolinas defense, and the rematch in Ireland gives the Tar Heels a chance to answer for it. One of the more intriguing names in that equation is safety Peyton Waters, who played only limited snaps a year ago but now looks positioned for a much bigger role as the No. 2 strong safety behind Greg Smith.
For UNC, this is more than just an early-season test on a big stage. The Tar Heels have reportedly carried the memory of that defeat through their preparation, and the defense in particular has plenty to prove after the way TCU exposed them last time around. Waters expanded role adds another layer of interest, because Carolina will need more reliable play from the back end if it wants this rematch to look different. [Read more 🡒]
Tar Heels Just Showed Who They'll Trust To Lead In 2026
North Carolina has already started laying the groundwork for 2026 by naming seven captains, a group that gives a clear snapshot of where the program believes its leadership will come from when the new season arrives. Melkart Abou Jaoude, Kaleb Cost, Benjamin Hall, Isaiah Johnson, Christo Kelly, Derek McDonald and Jordan Shipp each earned a place in that group, and the list reflects a blend of veterans and players whose roles have grown enough to matter in the locker room as much as on the field.
The captaincy announcement also offers an early look at how the Tar Heels want their next season to be shaped, with each player bringing a different kind of value based on what they showed a year ago and what is expected next. It is the sort of update that usually says as much about a teams internal confidence as it does about the players themselves, and for North Carolina, the real question now is how much of that leadership group turns into on-field production once 2026 gets underway. [Read more 🡒]