Bill Belichick, the NFL’s ultimate mastermind, is swapping gridirons, trading in his Patriots cap for a Tar Heels visor. This ain’t your average coaching gig, though. College football throws a whole new curveball at even the GOATs. While the legend himself might be scratching his head at some of the NCAA’s quirks, don’t worry, Nick Saban’s got his back. However, even the best need to adapt. And what college hurdle will bring the NFL GOAT to his knees?

CFB has its own share of challenges, from recruiting battles and academic pressures to the constant media spotlight. But what else do you need when the legendary coach himself gives you his word of advice? Nick Saban, who’s worn every coaching hat—NFL and CFB coordinator, assistant, head coach—you name it, is now sharing some wisdom with his old buddy Bill Belichick. Their friendship goes way back to the ‘90s when Browns HC Belichick hired Saban as his DC for his first NFL gig. Now, the ex-Crimson Tide HC is returning the favor with some solid ‘two cents.’

According to ESPN analyst Nick Saban, Belichick has what it takes to be a great leader in the college game. Coaching is coaching, after all, and a “good coach” can adapt with ease. But Saban believes the biggest hurdle for Belichick might be navigating the college recruitment process. “The difference in college is how do you bring guys to the team. It’s different than drafting guys than it is to have to recruit them,” Saban explained. Recruiting isn’t just about picking players; it’s a full-time, ‘365-day job’ of building relationships and evaluating talent.

Saban also highlighted the grind of recruitment, saying, “The biggest challenge for him will be the time he has to spend recruiting: making phone calls, talking to parents, and all those types of things to get the kind of players that you need. Having the resources is important to be able to pay them.” Well, knowing North Carolina’s condition this season with a 6-loss record, this is going to be the most tiring job for Bill Belichick. But it’s not like the team is not at all good; they are bowl-eligible, and that’s something Coach Bill can use as a USP for team recruitment.

There is no denying the fact that Bill Belichick joining North Carolina is a very risky move. The team already needs a lot of attention in various areas, and when you join a low-performing team with such a high winning track record, one loss raises a straight question on your coaching. But criticism does not bother coach Bill, as he says, “I didn’t come here to leave; I’m here to do the best I can for UNC and the program.” But what made him take that road?

Why not the NFL for Bill Belichick?

Bill Belichick, a big name in the NFL and one of the most successful coaches ever, is heading to college football. The winner of six Super Bowl titles with the Patriots is the first Bowl-winning coach who is dropping down to the CFB level without any college coaching experience. What else is there for him to prove? Well, the answer is not that straightforward. During his coaching sabbatical, Coach Bill spent most of his time doing media rounds, clearly indicating his interest in coaching NFL teams if given a chance.

However, reports show a different story. Teams like the Bears and Saints had head coach vacancies wide open, but none of them even approached Bill Belichick. Only one team showed genuine interest in him, and that is the Falcons. But Belichick couldn’t make it to the team’s list of three finalists. The main reason NFL teams doubted the coach’s capabilities was because of his age, which somehow became a barrier. Even ESPN’s Seth Wickersham reported the same thing last offseason, saying, “They viewed Belichick as an older, stoic coach who’d blow up the building and wouldn’t likely stay beyond two years after he sets the wins record.” 

All this clearly adds up to why the 72-year-old HC would possibly want to switch to college football; it’s not only his second innings but also his desire to prove that he is not a lost story but a new plot twist.