North Carolina Tar Heels football head coach Bill Belichick has put out a statement on his long-term plans amid rumors that he could eye a return to the NFL.

Around this time of the year, big-name college football head coaches start getting linked to NFL head coaching vacancies. Belichick, of course, coached the New England Patriots from 2020 to 2023 and led them to six Super Bowl championships, so his resume in the pros speaks for itself.

However, as whispers about Belichick leaving UNC for the New York Giants’ HC vacancy mount, the legendary head coach addressed the speculation in a statement shared on Instagram.

Belichick voiced his “great respect” for the Giants but said he has “not and will not pursue any NFL head coaching vacancies.” Belichick also stressed his commitment to the Tar Heels’ football program:

The Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll after falling to 2-8 on the season with a heartbreaking loss to the Chicago Bears. That immediately led to rumors about Belichick potentially returning to the NFC East club, but there’s obviously no interest on his end.

Bill Belichick Has Had A Rough First Year In North Carolina

Bill Belichick (Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images)

Fair or not, expectations were high for Belichick and UNC entering the 2025 season. He never held a college coaching position before, working with an NFL team every single year from 1975 to 2023.

But things haven’t gone all that smoothly for Belichick in his first year at Chapel Hill, as the Tar Heels boast a 4-5 record heading into Saturday’s road game against Wake Forest. Their first three losses were decided by 25-plus points, and three of their four victories have come against teams who are multiple games below 500.

Then again, the Patriots went 5-11 in Belichick’s first season before finishing above .500 every year from 2001 to 2019. So perhaps he just needs a full season or two to implement his system before UNC’s football program returns to relevance.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.

From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.