Bill Belichick Contract: Salary For NFL Legend In NCAA Debut

There are few offseason programs hotter than Bill Belichick’s North Carolina Tar Heels. The 73-year-old NFL legend is performing an encore in Chapel Hill, where UNC fans are hoping he can recreate a little NFL magic in ACC country. 

While the grizzled football veteran has often spoken of his admiration for Navy football, Belichick has no experience at the NCAA level. It’s a whole new world of NIL and recruiting for the six-time Super Bowl champion.

As you might expect, the North Carolina athletic department is prepared to pay a hefty price for the NFL wizard. His freshman status in the college game matters little to anyone at this point. 

Bill Belichick Contract

Bill Belichick signed a five-year contract to become the head coach of UNC football. The deal is worth a total of $50 million and runs through 2029.

The first three years of the deal are guaranteed, and there are numerous performance bonuses available to be earned. 

Bill Belichick Salary

Bill Belichick will earn $10 million per year at UNC. 

Bill Belichick Buyout

North Carolina protected itself from poaching by ensuring a huge $10 million buyout for Bill Belichick, should he choose to leave Chapel Hill and coach elsewhere.

That buyout dropped to just $1 million on June 1 – presumably because it’s unlikely an NFL franchise would still be in the position of needing a head coach that late into the offseason.

UNC can also fire Belichick with no buyout or cause after his third season. That effectively makes this a three-year contract with extra runway into 2028 and 2029.

The shorter deal makes some sense as Belichick enters his new position at the top of the list of the oldest coaches in FBS college football. 

Bill Belichick Bonuses

Bill Belichick’s contract at North Carolina includes several nice bonuses, including a $1.75 million payday if the Tar Heels win the national championship.

UNC is capped at quite a long price in BetMGM’s college football national championship odds market, so that’s pretty unlikely. 

But for those who are still bullish on North Carolina football odds this fall, look for Belichick and the Tar Heels to compete for these more attainable bonuses: 

• $150,000 for eight wins in the regular season
• $350,000 for 12 wins in the regular season
• $100,000 for being named ACC Coach of the Year
• $250,000 for being named national Coach of the Year
• A range from $50,000 to $150,000, depending on the average team GPA
• $100,000 for a team APR between 950-969; $200,000 for a team APR of 1,000 or more

Belichick also has a series of playoff-related bonuses. That includes $750,000 if the team makes the CFP, plus an additional sum based on how far the team advances:

• An extra $250,000 ($1 million total) if UNC reaches the quarterfinals
• An extra $500,000 ($1.25 million total) if UNC reaches the semifinals
• An extra $750,000 ($1.5 million total) if UNC reaches the championship game
• $1.75 million total (as mentioned previously) if UNC wins the national championship