Sep 13, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels head coach Bill Belichick on the sidelines in the second quarter at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

The Bill Belichick era at North Carolina has not gotten off to the start anyone in Chapel Hill hoped.

The decision to bring in the legendary NFL coach, who won six Super Bowls as the head coach of the New England Patriots and two more as a defensive coordinator, was one of the biggest storylines of the offseason heading into the 2025 season. However, the promise Belichick and general manager Michael Lombardi made to turn UNC into the "33rd NFL team" has not been kept to this point.

The Tar Heels look like one of the worst teams in the Power Four so far, and amid a 2-3 start to the season that has featured blowout losses to TCU, UCF and Clemson, several reports have indicated both sides may be looking to get off this roller coaster.

According to reports last week, Belichick has been looking for an escape plan and would be willing to agree to a renegotiation of his buyout, which currently sits at $20.8 million, according to the USA TODAY Sports coaching salary database. However, Belichick and UNC athletics director Bubba Cunningham released joint statements last week affirming their commitment to the program and Belichick as the head coach.

Belichick doubled down while addressing the media after the Tar Heels' bye week on Monday, calling reports that he is looking for an out "categorically false."

"Reports about my looking for a buyout or trying to leave here is categorically false," Belichick said, per ESPN. "There's zero truth to any of that. I'm glad I'm here. We're working toward our goals. We believe very much in the process. We need to just keep working and grinding away and that's exactly what we're doing."

Belichick added that he still believes in his "process" at North Carolina and expects that the results will eventually come.

"It's a learning curve," Belichick said. "We're all in it together. But we're making a lot of progress, and the process will eventually produce the results we want like they have everywhere else I've been."

Both Belichick and Lombardi, a former NFL general manager who hadn't held a front office role since 2013 before this season, have come under criticism for their roster-building approach during the offseason, as it looks like the team could be heading for a rough finish in Year 1.

The vibes aren't great in Chapel Hill right now, and rumors that Belichick won't be back for his second season in 2026 will likely continue unless the team improves. Still, it seems Belichick is adamant that he's not leaving this job — at least, not without making North Carolina fire him and pay his buyout in full.

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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: Bill Belichick strongly denies that he's looking for an out at UNC

Reporting by Tyler Nettuno, College Sports Wire / College Sports Wire

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