The NFL and its commissioner, Roger Goodell, have long been after an 18th regular season game for his league. After making Christmas one of its tentpole events during the regular season with a peaked viewership, NFLonNetflix. Yet, as the league barrels toward its future, a quiet alarm bell rings—this time from an unexpected source. Bill Belichick, the architect of the Patriots dynasty, has transitioned into a new chapter as the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels. But even from CFB’s sidelines, the legendary tactician has sharp observations about the NFL’s trajectory, particularly concerning their big ambitions.

The warning came during episode 18 of the COACH podcast, where ‘Air’ Belichick joined former colleagues Matt Patricia and Michael Lombardi for a deep dive into the state of football. Lombardi set the table by discussing the NFL’s need for a player development system, drawing parallels to how college football has adjusted in the NIL era. “We have to develop young players. We have to develop young quarterbacks,” Lombardi emphasized. He pointed out how the draft, once dominated by seniors, now sees juniors making up a significant share, though NIL deals might push many to stay longer.

Tying it all together, Lombardi critiqued the idea of an 18-game season, saying, “If we go to 18 games, we have to have a player development program to ensure there’s a lot of good young players that increase the talent pool.”

Now, the GM at Tar Heels, Lombardi, praised the CFB, “The colleges are doing a better job of teaching the passing game than it was when I first started when it was Wishbone and Veer.” Bill Belichick took the baton and didn’t mince words, delivering a candid critique of the NFL’s current state of competitiveness.

“One of the things that I think wasn’t great this year,” the x6 SB winner began, “was the number of non-competitive teams by the middle of the season. Basically, we had at least a third of the league that was realistically not even in contention for the playoffs.” For a league that prides itself on parity—crafted meticulously through the salary cap, draft structure, and revenue sharing—this widening gap is a problem. “This league is based on equality, and that really wasn’t the case this year,” he added, noting how struggling teams often seemed incapable of competing with the league’s so-called top-guns.

The GOAT Brady’s favorite coach, greatest himself, didn’t stop at identifying the problem; he painted a stark picture of the implications. “The teams that didn’t have good records basically only beat each other,” he explained. “They had a hard time beating any of the, let’s call it, upper-echelon teams.”  There were exceptions like Washington, Denver, and the Chargers, who managed to claw their way back into relevance but lamented that far too many franchises remained stuck in the proverbial basement. “If it can’t be a more competitive league, I don’t think that’s good for the game,” Belichick warned Roger Goodell, underscoring the risk of long-term damage to the NFL’s brand.

The timing of the UNC head coach’s comments is significant, coming as the NFL head continues to champion an 18-game regular season. The league’s success with Netflix on Christmas gameday into a marquee football event only fuel Goodell’s ambition to expand the ‘shield’ overseas. The Ravens-Texans Christmas game, dubbed the “Beyoncé Bowl,” showcased the NFL’s knack for turning spectacle into ratings gold.

But their former legendary coach’s critique reminds and warned that glittering showcases can’t mask structural flaws. Adding games might boost revenue in the short term, but what happens when a third of the league’s teams are effectively out of contention by midseason? The product on the field risks becoming diluted—a danger Bill Belichick seems acutely aware of.

This also draws an interesting parallel with college football’s transition to a 12-team playoff. The expansion has been hailed for increasing opportunities for more teams to compete for a championship, but it also brings challenges. As Lombardi noted, “Colleges are doing a better job of teaching the passing game… but we’re going to need to work on that.” The former TE seems to see a similar crossroads for the NFL, where expansion could exacerbate the league’s existing issues rather than solve them. His call for a more competitive league isn’t just about aesthetics. If it’s not competitive, the GOAT’s out of there, which he is.

As Belichick prepares to lead North Carolina into the Fenway Bowl against UConn, his focus remains on the task at hand. The GOAT coach is challenging the league to think deeper about its future. For the big league, which has long marketed itself as a league where “any given Sunday,” anything can happen. How do you maintain parity when revenue and expansion dominate the agenda? How do you ensure young players are developed in a way that keeps the league dynamic and competitive?

Makes sense for a 72-year-old Bill Belichick, who’s still competitive

Probably the most at his age. At 72, Bill Belichick could have taken it easy, maybe indulged in some golf or writing memoirs, but no—he’s back in the game, now leading the North Carolina Tar Heels. When asked why he’s still coaching at his age during his introductory press conference on Dec. 11, the legend quipped, “It beats working,” sending shockwaves through the sports world. Classic Belichick.

Since stepping into his new role, Belichick has wasted no time showing he’s still as competitive as ever. With his GM/friend, he’s been diving headfirst into the transfer portal, reshaping the roster. His fingerprints are already all over the program’s future. However, fans hoping to see him pacing the sidelines at the Fenway Bowl against UConn will have to wait. The reins for this one go to Freddie Kitchens, UNC’s run game coordinator and tight ends coach, who will serve as interim head coach.

Even so, the buzz around the GOAT’s arrival is undeniable, still guiding from away. Let’s just say retirement isn’t coming anytime soon!