- Bill Belichick was named coach of the UNC Tar Heels on December 11.
Bill Belichick would have to get the “biggest coaching contract in history” to return to the NFL just weeks after becoming UNC's head coach.
Although his contract with North Carolina contains a $10 million buyout, the coach has been approached by several franchises to see if he would make a surprising U-turn, including the Raiders and their minority owner Tom Brady.
Belichick is expected to stay at least one year at UNC, but a source told DailyMail.com what he would need to return to the NFL this offseason.
“It would have to be the biggest coaching deal ever made, with so many guarantees that he would never be fired, and Bill would have to have full control over the team to consider any of the teams that have reached out,” they said. “He doesn't expect that to happen, but he'll do his due diligence anyway.”
Belichick has been contacted by the Raiders, Saints, Bears and Jaguars, who are searching for a new head coach for this cycle.
“The Raiders, Saints, Bears and Jaguars have sent several feelers to Bill to see if he would be interested, but nothing has indicated where he would consider taking any of those jobs,” the source continued. “He is flattered, but for now he stands his ground and will remain at UNC for at least a year.”
Bill Belichick is expected to remain at UNC for now despite interest from several NFL teams
Belichick was recently contacted by his former quarterback Tom Brady regarding the Raiders job.
Fans went into a frenzy on Wednesday when NFL Network He initially reported that Brady had recently been in contact with his former coach Belichick regarding the Raiders job.
The aforementioned source acknowledged that those conversations took place, but poured cold water on the prospect of the two meeting in Las Vegas.
“Tom and Bill have had talks, but nothing to the extent some have been saying, something we definitely need to monitor, but Bill will not be the Raiders' coach,” the source said.
The interest in Belichick comes after he was interviewed by only one NFL team last offseason: the Atlanta Falcons.
The 72-year-old stepped away from the NFL after winning six Super Bowls as the Patriots' head coach, but remains just 15 wins away from surpassing Don Shula's all-time wins record (including playoffs) for a coach.
“Bill is not completely against returning to the NFL, but he will give UNC at least a year, if not more, as he fully appreciates the school and the program and the opportunity they are giving him,” the source added.
“He has a feeling of, 'Where were all these teams before he took the job with the Tar Heels?' But at the same time he will listen to what they have to say, but he doesn't expect it to go anywhere.'
If Belichick decided to leave UNC before coaching a game there, it wouldn't be the first U-turn he's made in his career.
In 2000, he resigned from the Jets job just one day after accepting it, before becoming a franchise legend with the Patriots.
With the college football season scheduled to begin next August, Belichick has been seen on the recruiting trail Now for North Carolina.