When the lights came on at Kenan Memorial Stadium, it felt less like a college football opener and more like a Hollywood premiere. The air buzzed with history and anticipation as living legends filled the stands — Michael Jordan, Lawrence Taylor, Roy Williams, Mia Hamm, and a host of Tar Heel greats — all gathered to witness Bill Belichick’s long-awaited debut in Carolina blue. The stage was set for a new era, the merging of NFL royalty with college tradition, and Chapel Hill pulsed with the kind of energy that only happens when greatness steps onto sacred ground.
TCU rolled to a massive 48-14 win over North Carolina on Monday night to open the Bill Belichick era
Bill Belichick’s long-awaited college head coaching debut wound up being more about hype than substance on Monday night.
The hoodie, as Belichick was so affectionately known while leading the New England Patriots, had not been on the sideline for a meaningful game until Monday since January of 2024.
Unfortunately for those in attendance at Kenan Stadium, Belichick’s UNC era began the way his tenure in New England ended, with a loss. After scoring a touchdown on the first drive of the game, the Tar Heels gave up 41 unanswered points en route to a massive 48-14 defeat.
Despite the outcome, Belichick’s debut as the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels was a huge deal, and there were plenty of athletes and celebrities on hand to support him in his new journey, as UNC kicked off the season against TCU on Monday night.
But before kickoff, Belichick made his first game-day walk in Chapel Hill as UNC’s head coach.
Once the fans filed into Kenan Memorial Stadium, the celebrity sightings began, starting with a trio of UNC GOATS in the building to watch the first game of the Belichick era.
NBA great Michael Jordan and NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor joined former basketball coach Roy Williams to watch history be made and root on their Tar Heels.
Also reported to be in attendance were USA Women’s Soccer star and UNC alum Mia Hamm, former NFL star and Tar Heel Julius Peppers and country singer Eric Church, among others.
How Belichick got to Chapel Hill
Since Belichick’s final game with New England, he failed to land another NFL coaching gig, instead opting to write a book and eventually take over as the leader of the Tar Heels football program.
The on-field accomplishments of Belichick, a six-time Super Bowl winner as head coach and a three-time AP Coach of the Year, have not necessarily been the foremost topic of conversation since he’s joined UNC. Instead, Belichick’s girlfriend Jordon Hudson, whose presence in his business dealings, including at the UNC facility, has been the focus of considerable attention his new tenure with the Tar Heels.
She was spotted in a box alongside NFL legend Randy Moss.
As arguably the greatest coach in NFL history, everyone is eager to see how “The Patriot Way” will translate to the college game. While the transition hasn’t been entirely smooth, this game was a huge event in Belichick’s legacy. His six Super Bowl rings, though, clearly didn’t lead to wins at the college level. Only time will tell where the Tar Heels go from here.
